What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: THC, Addiction.

Where was this research published?

Published in Preventive medicine on September 28, 2026.

Survey links THC amount and use frequency with cannabis use disorder

Q: What did this research study find?

Higher *THC* quantity per use day was associated with greater odds of *cannabis use disorder* (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.20–1.37) and a higher CUD criteria count.

Associations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol quantity and Cannabis use frequency with Cannabis use disorder among adults who use Cannabis in the United States.

Preventive medicine • September 28, 2026 • Highly Relevant

🤖

AI Summary

This online survey study examined whether the amount of THC consumed on a cannabis-use day and how often adults used cannabis were associated with cannabis use disorder (CUD). It included 3,303 past-month cannabis users in the United States, surveyed from August 2024 to January 2025. In regression analyses, higher reported THC quantity per use day was associated with greater odds of CUD and a higher count of CUD criteria; people using on 1–10 days had lower odds than daily users. These are associations, not evidence that either exposure caused CUD.

The association between THC quantity and CUD was stronger among less-frequent users, and quantity was most strongly associated with the criteria involving time spent using, tolerance, and hazardous use. The findings suggest that describing cannabis exposure using both frequency and amount may be informative. This is an abstract-based summary of a survey study; self-reported observational data cannot establish causation, and the abstract does not provide enough detail to assess all study limitations or the clinical importance of the associations.

💡 Key Findings

Higher THC quantity per use day was associated with greater odds of cannabis use disorder (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.20–1.37) and a higher CUD criteria count.

High

85%

Compared with daily users, participants who used cannabis on 1–10 days had lower odds of CUD (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.20–0.40).

High

85%

The association between THC quantity and CUD was stronger among lower-frequency users; quantity was most strongly associated with time spent using, tolerance, and hazardous use criteria.

High

80%

📄 Original Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We examined how milligrams of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (mgTHC) per using day and cannabis use frequency relate to cannabis use disorder (CUD). METHODS: From Aug 2024-Jan 2025, N = 3303 past-month cannabis users in the United States completed the Cannabis Exposure Index online survey. We used logistic and linear regression to examine three CUD outcomes: (1) diagnosis, (2) individual criterion endorsement, and (3) total criteria count. Model predictors included mgTHC per using day, cannabis use frequency, and sociodemographics. RESULTS: Higher mgTHC predicted greater odds of CUD (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.37) and greater criteria count (β = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.61, 1.07). Participants who used cannabis on 1-10 days had lower CUD odds than daily users (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.40). mgTHC was a stronger predictor of CUD among lower-frequency than higher-frequency users (interaction p = 0.030). Higher mgTHC was most strongly associated with the time spent, tolerance, and hazardous use criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Both mgTHC and frequency were associated with CUD. Cannabis exposure may be characterized more accurately by considering both how often cannabis is used and how much THC is consumed on use days.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Preventive medicine
Published: September 28, 2026
PMID: 42805506
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2026.108669

Authors (6)

Jacob T Borodovsky Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 46 Centerra Parkway, Lebanon, NH 03766, United States; The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Rope Ferry Road, Hanover, NH 03755, United States. Electronic address: Jacob.borodovsky@dartmouth.edu.
Melanie Wall New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, United States.
Cara A Struble Department of Psychology, University of Maine, 301 Williams Hall, Orono, ME 04469, United States.
Jun Liu New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, United States.
Alan J Budney Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 46 Centerra Parkway, Lebanon, NH 03766, United States.
+1 more authors