The ways people consume marijuana could provide valuable insight into their likelihood of developing problematic use patterns, according to new research. A national study has revealed that individuals who use marijuana in multiple ways have a higher likelihood of developing marijuana use disorder than those who maintain one consumption method.
Although smoking remains the leading consumption method among users, researchers identified a smaller group that regularly combines almost every available option. This category, representing approximately 14% of participants, recorded the highest levels of frequent consumption and addiction-related symptoms.
Cannabis products can be smoked, vaped, eaten, or dabbed. The latter involves inhaling vapor produced by heating highly concentrated marijuana extracts. According to national estimates, around 43.8 million U.S. citizens aged 12 and above had used cannabis within the month preceding the survey.
Scientists examined information from 17,732 adults who reported recent marijuana consumption. Participants were separated into four categories according to their preferred consumption habits.
Primarily smoking accounted for 48% of respondents. Another 21% combined vaping with smoking, while 17% mainly relied on edible products. The remaining participants regularly used multiple consumption methods.
Daily consumption was especially prevalent among those in the last category, with approximately half reporting marijuana use every day. The corresponding figures were 31% among people who vaped and smoked, 28% for those who predominantly smoked, and 13% for those favoring edibles.
Differences were also apparent in assessments of marijuana use disorder. Approximately 67% of participants who used several consumption methods met the diagnostic criteria. The proportion fell to 47% among smokers who also vaped, 36% among those who primarily smoked, and 15% among edible users.
Lead researcher Omar El-Shahawy said asking patients about their preferred consumption methods, rather than simply whether they use marijuana, could help medical professionals recognize individuals who may require further evaluation.
The study, published in Addictive Behaviors, also highlighted demographic differences. Adults aged between 18 and 25 represented substantial portions of the vaping-and-smoking and multiple-method categories. Meanwhile, women and university graduates were more strongly represented among people who mostly consumed edibles.
Researchers additionally noted that cannabis smokers were highly likely to use cigarettes. Researchers warned that inhaling smoke from both substances could increase exposure to potentially harmful substances.
The authors stressed that their findings establish a relationship, not proof that using different cannabis products causes addiction. Since participants reported their own habits, inaccurate responses may also have affected the results.
These findings suggest that using multiple consumption methods may flag a need for further assessment, and recommendations from licensed entities like SNDL Inc. (NASDAQ: SNDL) about the most suitable product type to address one’s needs could help buyers limit unnecessarily hopping from one consumption style to another.
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