A within-person comparison of the subjective effects of higher vs. lower-potency cannabis.
Sarah A. Okey, Madeline H Meier
Drug and Alcohol Dependence November 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108225 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 574 |
| Population | Current (past-year) cannabis users who use both marijuana and concentrates |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Butane hash oil Concentrates Subjective effects |
| Key findings | Marijuana produces greater positive subjective effects than concentrates, and negative effects of both are minimal. |
Abstract
Cannabis concentrates have much higher concentrations of THC than marijuana (flower) and are quickly gaining popularity in the United States. One hypothesis is that use of higher-THC cannabis (concentrates) might result in greater intoxication and more severe acute negative effects than lower-THC cannabis (marijuana), but few studies have compared the subjective effects of concentrates and marijuana. Current (past-year) cannabis users were recruited online to complete a survey about their cannabis use. Cannabis users who reported using both marijuana and concentrates (n = 574) answered questions about the subjective effects of marijuana and, subsequently, the subjective effects of concentrates. Subjective effects were obtained for the following domains: affect, cognitive function, psychotic-like experiences, physiological effects, and reduced consciousness. Participants reported using marijuana between 5-6 times per week and concentrates slightly more than once per month. Within-person comparisons of the subjective effects of marijuana and concentrates showed that marijuana was rated as producing greater overall positive effects (Marijuana: M = 5.6, Concentrates: M = 4.5; Cohen's d = 0.75, paired t(561) = 14.67, p < .001), including greater positive affect and enhanced cognitive function. Negative effects of both marijuana and concentrates were minimal. Marijuana was selected over concentrates as the 'preferred type' of cannabis by 77.5 % of participants. The main difference in the subjective effects of marijuana and concentrates is in terms of their positive effects, with marijuana producing greater positive effects than concentrates. Negative effects of marijuana and concentrates were small, suggesting that extreme negative effects are unlikely for regular cannabis users.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannabis use before age 15 and subsequent executive functioning 104 chronic cannabis users (49 early-onset before age 15, 55 late-onset after age 15)... | 2011 | Observational cross-sectional study | n = 148 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Online survey respondents | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | |
| User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study Users of hallucinogenic drugs who completed a web-based questionnaire | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 600 |
| Illicit Use of LSD or Psilocybin, but not MDMA or Nonpsychedelic Drugs, is Associated with Mystical Experiences in a Dose-Dependent Manner Adults recruited from the MAPS website and newsletter, most reporting use of various... | 2012 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 337 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- High potency cannabis use, mental health symptoms and cannabis dependence: Triangulating the evidence. Addictive Behaviors September 2023
- Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Cannabis Use-Related Adverse Psychosis Outcomes: A Public Mental Health-Oriented Evidence Review Journal of dual diagnosis July 3, 2023
- Association of cannabis potency with mental ill health and addiction: a systematic review. The Lancet Psychiatry September 2022
Cites 10
- High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis The British Journal of Psychiatry November 30, 2009
- Traditional marijuana, high‐potency cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids: increasing risk for psychosis World Psychiatry September 22, 2016
- Made from concentrate? A national web survey assessing dab use in the United States. Drug and Alcohol Dependence September 1, 2018
- Leveraging user perspectives for insight into cannabis concentrates. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 2018
- Acute subjective effects after smoking joints containing up to 69 mg Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in recreational users: a randomized, crossover clinical trial. Psychopharmacology December 2014
and 5 more in the library