High Potency Cannabis Tied To Greater Use And Risk In Us Youth

A caller study published coming successful nan technological diary Addiction has recovered that young adults successful nan US do not 'titrate' erstwhile utilizing beardown cannabis. In different words, they do not usage little cannabis to compensate for nan stronger potency. In fact, it's nan opposite: young adults who study utilizing beardown cannabis besides typically usage it much often and successful higher quantities than young adults who usage weaker forms of nan drug. 

This study surveyed complete 400 young adults successful California USA who had utilized cannabis successful nan past month. They were asked to picture nan spot of their emblematic cannabis merchandise utilizing a THC potency standard of 0 (no THC) to 5 (very precocious THC concentration). THC, aliases delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, is nan main psychoactive compound successful cannabis that causes those who usage it to acquisition a 'high'. Nearly half of those 400 participants (195) said they routinely utilized precocious aliases very precocious potency cannabis flower. 

Participants disclosed really often they had consumed cannabis flower successful nan past month, really often they typically consumed successful a azygous day, and really overmuch cannabis they usually consumed per day. The participants who typically utilized stronger potency cannabis smoked cannabis much often and successful higher quantities than participants who typically utilized low- aliases moderate-strength cannabis. Each measurement connected nan THC potency standard was associated pinch 3.33 much days of cannabis usage per period and 0.13 much grams of cannabis flower utilized per day.

Each subordinate besides answered a CUDIT-R questionnaire (Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test – Revised), which identifies symptoms of cannabis usage disorder. The participants' scores roseate by an mean of 1.21 pinch each level of THC potency, truthful that participants who reported typically utilizing products pinch precocious aliases very precocious THC contented had an mean people of 11.2, compared pinch nan mean people of 7.0 for participants who usually utilized products pinch very debased THC. A people of 8 aliases much connected nan CUDIT-R study indicates perchance problematic cannabis use; a people of 13 aliases much indicates a imaginable cannabis usage disorder. This cross-sectional study could not find if utilizing stronger THC accrued risks of a cannabis usage upset aliases if those pinch a cannabis utilized upset preferred utilizing stronger cannabis.

In US markets, nan mean potency of cannabis flower has risen dramatically successful nan past fewer decades. Our study shows that young adults who activity retired higher potency cannabis besides typically usage much cannabis and acquisition greater symptoms of cannabis usage disorder. As nan marketplace for higher potency cannabis expands, we request to make judge young adults understand really important it is to cognize nan spot of nan cannabis they are utilizing and nan risks associated pinch cannabis use."

Dr. Michael Dunbar, Lead Author, RAND

This study was funded by nan National Institute connected Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).