Most free cannabis quit apps lack scientific backing, study finds

Over the past 2 decades, global rates of cannabis use have risen significantly, especially among young adults. This has corresponded to an increase in cannabis-related problems and hospitalizations. Thus, there has been significant interest in developing new interventions that can help facilitate cannabis cessation and reduce hospitalization rates. Specifically, mobile apps have emerged as scalable and accessible stand-alone or adjunct interventions that can help individuals with cannabis use disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of free cannabis cessation apps available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, focusing on the analysis of their features, content, and adherence to evidence-based practices. A systematic search was conducted in April 2023 using a variety of keywords. The apps were deemed eligible if they were free, available in English, accessible on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, and related to cannabis cessation. Eligible apps were used for at least 1 month and were rated on the Mobile App Rating Scale by 2 reviewers. Interrater reliability was excellent, with a weighted Cohen κ of 0.893 (95% CI 0.835-0.943). Four apps were included in the analysis, namely, "Grounded-Quit Weed," "Quit Weed," "Marijuana Addiction Calendar," and "Marijuana Anonymous." The mean overall quality score of the apps was 3.4 out of 5, indicating poor to acceptable quality. The apps scored the highest on the "functionality" section and the lowest on the "information" section. Of the 4 apps, 3 focused on tracking cannabis use and duration of abstinence, whereas 1 focused on peer support. A limited number of cannabis cessation apps were identified, and those that were available were of low quality due to a lack of evidence-based information. This study is the first to evaluate the current availability and quality of mobile apps designed for cannabis cessation. Unlike previous research that broadly assessed cannabis-related mobile apps, this study focuses on the limited number of free cannabis cessation tools, reflecting what is most available to the general population. The findings highlight a significant gap between the growing demand for virtual cessation tools and the quality of existing options. With the rising global prevalence of cannabis use disorders, there is an increasing need for robust, accessible, and evidence-based therapeutic options. While mobile health apps may be a viable option to support cannabis cessation, the current landscape is limited by poor quality apps and a lack of evidence-based information. From a real-world perspective, this study highlights the need for users to exercise caution when relying on current cannabis cessation apps and underscores the urgent need for the development and evaluation of new evidence-based digital interventions.