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How much cannabis is used in a joint in Australia? An experimental investigation into use by potency and frequency
Dawson, Danielle Stjepanović, Daniel Lorenzetti, Valentina Hall, Wayne D. Leung, Janni
Dawson, Danielle
Stjepanović, Daniel
Lorenzetti, Valentina
Hall, Wayne D.
Leung, Janni
Abstract
Introduction
Cannabis use is highly prevalent in Australia, yet current survey metrics measure tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure with limited accuracy. Often survey items measure cannabis quantity by assuming specific modes of use (i.e., ‘how many joints do you use?’), which fail to capture variations in cannabis use and the diverse modes of use (e.g., joints, cones, spliffs). This study investigated how much cannabis is used in these modes of administration in an Australian sample.
Methods
Participants (N = 31, Mage = 25.77; 51% university students) completed the Roll a Joint Paradigm in which they rolled joints, spliffs and packed cones as they would typically, using oregano as ‘cannabis.’ Participants then prepared each again but with cannabis of higher or lower potency.
Results
The amount of cannabis used across different modes of administration was variable: joints (range 0.10–1.25 g), spliffs (range 0.12–1.21 g) and cones (range 0.03–0.41 g). Participants who used cannabis daily rolled three times the amount of cannabis into a joint.
Discussion and Conclusions
The amount of cannabis used in common modes of administration may be highly variable. Daily use may be associated using larger quantities of cannabis. Titration attempts based on potency were not proportional or consistent across modes of administration. The results indicate people may adjust the quantity of cannabis based on perceived potency, however, not proportional to THC concentration. Inconsistency in the amount of cannabis used based on potency and within different modes of administration may represent a problem for self-report metrics which ask participants to report cannabis use in joints.
Keywords
cannabis, cannabis dependence, cannabis smoking, cannabis-related disorder
Date
2024
Type
Journal article
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review
Book
Volume
43
Issue
1
Page Range
226-232
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File Access
Open
Notes
© 2023 The Authors. Drug and Alcohol Review published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.