What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Addiction.

Where was this research published?

Published in Drug and alcohol dependence on July 27, 2026.

A new tool may clarify cannabis demand and problematic use

Q: What did this research study find?

In **63 participants**, the *Experimental Cannabis Marketplace* showed similar *demand intensity* and *demand elasticity* results to the established *Marijuana Purchase Task*.

Preliminary validation of an experimental cannabis marketplace and its psychometric properties against an established measure of cannabis demand.

Drug and alcohol dependence • July 27, 2026 • Highly Relevant

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AI Summary

Researchers conducted an initial validation of the Experimental Cannabis Marketplace (ECM), a tool designed to measure how much cannabis people want to purchase at different prices. In a sample of 63 participants, the ECM was compared with the established Marijuana Purchase Task and with questionnaires measuring problematic cannabis use and craving.

The ECM and the established task produced similar measures of cannabis demand, including demand intensity—how much cannabis participants wanted—and demand elasticity—how strongly demand changed as price increased. ECM demand intensity was also positively associated with measures of problematic cannabis use. These findings support the ECM’s convergent and concurrent validity, suggesting it could help researchers study cannabis purchasing behavior and identify patterns linked to problematic use. The abstract does not establish that the ECM can diagnose cannabis problems or that demand causes problematic use.

💡 Key Findings

In 63 participants, the Experimental Cannabis Marketplace showed similar demand intensity and demand elasticity results to the established Marijuana Purchase Task.

Moderate

55%

ECM demand intensity was positively associated with measures of problematic cannabis use.

Moderate

55%

The study found evidence of convergent and concurrent validity, supporting the ECM as a promising method for evaluating cannabis demand.

Moderate

55%

📄 Original Abstract

The aim of the presented study was to perform an initial validation of the Experimental Cannabis Marketplace (ECM) by comparing behavioral economic indices generated from the Marijuana Purchase Task (MPT), and to measures associated with problematic cannabis use. Participants (n = 63) were recruited from CloudResearch and completed a survey containing the MPT, the ECM, and measures associated with problematic cannabis use (Cannabis Use Problem Identification Test, Marijuana Craving Questionnaire-Short Form). Nonlinear regression was used to determine behavioral economic indices from the MPT and the ECM. Then, Spearman's rho correlations between behavioral economic indices and problematic cannabis use measures were calculated. The behavioral economic indices of demand intensity and demand elasticity were significantly correlated (medium) between the MPT and the ECM. Demand intensity in the ECM was positively associated with measures of problematic cannabis use. Positive associations indicating both convergent and concurrent validity suggest that the ECM is a suitable method for evaluating cannabis demand.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Drug and alcohol dependence
Published: July 27, 2026
PMID: 42526260
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113280

Authors (7)

Amanda J Quisenberry Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States.
Richard J O'Connor Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States.
Nicolas J Schlienz Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States.
Emily Paul Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States.
Ellen Carl Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States.
+2 more authors