02 Aug RAND Study: Many Young People Don’t Use Less Cannabis to Account for Today’s Higher Potency Products

Dr. Dunbar

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Michael S. Dunbar, PhD
Senior Behavioral Scientist
RAND

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Cannabis products are way stronger, or more potent, today than they were 20 years ago. In the past few decades, average levels of THC (i.e., the main substance in cannabis that leads to feeling high) in cannabis products have risen dramatically.

With cannabis becoming increasingly accessible in places like the U.S., health officials have raised questions about how higher-potency products might be associated with problematic cannabis use and related harms, including cannabis use disorder. This is especially important for at-risk groups like young adults, who tend to use cannabis at higher rates than other age groups.

One perspective is that people may use high-potency products less frequently and/or in lower amounts (i.e., “titrate”), which could mitigate some potential risks. Alternatively, if people use higher-potency products more frequently or heavily, it may increase potential for harm. In this study, we looked at how use of higher-potency cannabis flower correlated with use behavior and symptoms of problematic cannabis use in a sample of young adults.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response:  In this study, we surveyed over 400 young adults based in California about their cannabis use behavior, symptoms of problematic use, and the potency of cannabis flower that they typically used.

We found that a lot of people – nearly half the sample – reported that they typically used “high” or “very high” potency cannabis flower. Additionally, individuals who used higher-potency cannabis tended to use it more frequently and heavily, and had greater symptoms of problematic cannabis use, compared to individuals who used less potent cannabis.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Our findings don’t seem to be consistent with the idea that people “titrate,” or use lower amounts, when using high-potency cannabis products. That is, young people in our study did not appear use less cannabis to compensate for higher potency.  Rather, young adults who reported using stronger cannabis used it more frequently and in higher quantities, and had greater symptoms of problematic cannabis use, compared to young adults who used less potent cannabis. 

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?

Response: A key limitation of this study is that it was cross-sectional, meaning we couldn’t look at changes over time. As a results, we weren’t able to determine whether use of higher-potency cannabis is contributing to heavier or more problematic use over time or whether heavier consumers are more likely to seek out higher-potency cannabis products. As higher-potency products have become more accessible in the U.S., there’s an urgent need for more longitudinal work to tease out how use of more potent products affects patterns of consumption and related health consequences across time.  More broadly, more work needs to be done to ensure that people are knowledgeable about the THC levels in the products they use, the potential harms associated with high-potency products, and how to reduce their risks if they choose to use cannabis.

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

Citation:

Dunbar MS, D’Amico EJ, Seelam R, Davis JP, Pedersen ER, Rodriguez A, et al. High potency cannabis flower use is associated with heavier consumption and risk for cannabis use disorder among young adults in California, United States. Addiction. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70118

Editor’s note: Discuss your use of THC, Cannabis or CBD products with your health care provider.  Dosing of cannabis products is variable, especially since it is not FDA regulated. Cannabis/CBD may interfere with other medications and should not be used in individuals with certain health conditions, including liver issues. CBD skin care products can be absorbed through the skin and have similar effects.
Do not use Cannabis products including edibles and CBD if you are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant. Do not use cannabis products if driving or operating difficult or dangerous machinery. Children should not be exposed to cannabis or CBD products.

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Last Updated on August 2, 2025 by Marie Benz MD FAAD