Cannabis rates have been increasing in college students putting them at risk for cannabis use disorder (CUD). The current study classifies use patterns for several cannabis products along with frequency, modes, and average hours “high” per day. They also look at CUD symptomatology.

To complete the study, 18-24 year old students were recruited from three different universities with a total of 1390 participants. The three schools each had different laws regarding cannabis use including illegal, decriminalized, and legal for adults 21 and older. The researchers asked participants about demographics, cannabis use behavior sample indicators, CUD symptomatology, and cannabis consequences. The cannabis use behavior sample indicators included 30-day frequency, modes, average hours high per day, and product use. The researchers classified the participants into 5 classes of marijuana user types. These included high-frequency all-product users, high-frequency plant/moderate-frequency edible and concentrate users, low-frequency plant users, moderate-frequency plant and edible users, and low-frequency edible users.

The first class (high-frequency all-product users) had the highest number of consequences with significantly more than the third class (low-frequency plant users). They also found that class 1 had the highest risk of CUD with all classes differing significantly. Overall, the data showed that demographic characteristics, cannabis consequences, and CUD symptomatology differed throughout the classes that were characterized by frequency and product. This information is important because cannabis use patterns are evolving as more products are arising. Due to this, research needs to be comprehensive so that college students can be better reached, and prevention and intervention can be best modeled to help the students.

Take Away: With cannabis use on the rise among college students, it is becoming more important to understand use patterns. The current study attempts to classify use patterns for cannabis use products. 1390 college students were recruited, and they were classified into 5 different classes. These included high-frequency all-product users, high-frequency plant/moderate-frequency edible and concentrate users, low-frequency plant users, moderate-frequency plant and edible users, and low-frequency edible users. The first class had the highest number of consequences along with the highest risk of CUD. Overall, the data showed that demographic characteristics, cannabis consequences, and CUD symptomatology differed throughout the classes that were characterized by frequency and product.

Gunn, R. L., Aston, E. R., Sokolovsky, A. W., White, H. R., & Jackson, K. M. (2020). Complex cannabis use patterns: Associations with cannabis consequences and cannabis use disorder symptomatology. Addictive Behaviors, 105, 106329. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106329