A study published in the journal Addiction found that young adults in the US do not reduce the amount of cannabis they consume when using higher-potency products. Instead, those who use stronger cannabis tend to do so more frequently and in larger quantities compared to those using lower-potency products. Medical cannabis professionals highly recommend titration or incremental increases of high-potency cannabis in order to find the right dose for an individual.
The study surveyed over 400 young adults residing in California who reported consuming cannabis in the past month. The respondents described the strength of their preferred cannabis product using a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potency scale of 0 (no THC) to 5 (very high THC concentration). THC is the main psychoactive cannabinoid compound that produces an intoxicating effect. Approximately half of the respondents reported routinely using high or very high potency cannabis flower.
Respondents described their cannabis use frequency and amounts. Those consuming higher-potency cannabis reported more frequent and higher quantity use than those using lower-potency products. Each increase on the THC potency scale corresponded with 3.33 more days of cannabis use per month and 0.13 more grams per day.
The respondents also completed a CUDIT-R questionnaire (Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test – Revised) to assess symptoms of cannabis use disorder (CUD). The respondents’ scores rose by an average of 1.21 with each level of THC potency. Respondents who reported typically using products with high or very high THC content had an average score of 11.2, while respondents who usually used low THC products had an average score of 7.0. A score of 8 or more on the CUDIT-R survey indicates potentially problematic cannabis use that negatively impacts one’s mental health, physical wellness, and social and work habits. A score of 13 or more indicates a possible cannabis use disorder. The researchers could not determine if using high potency products increased CUD risk, or if those with a cannabis used disorder preferred using stronger cannabis.
Sources: Addiction, Eureka News Alert
