UK Study Sets THC Consumption Thresholds for Cannabis Use Disorder Risk
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A new study from UK researchers has, for the first time, established quantifiable thresholds for cannabis use disorder (CUD) based on delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) consumption, offering potential guidelines for harm reduction and safer cannabis use.
The research, published in the journal Addiction, sheds light on the growing public health concern of CUD – a condition characterized by a problematic pattern of cannabis use despite negative consequences. Approximately 3 in 10 cannabis users in the United States meet the criteria for CUD, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and the issue extends beyond recreational users, with Australian studies indicating that 25% of medicinal cannabis users also experience the disorder.
Defining Risk with Standard THC Units
Researchers from the University of Bath, King’s College London, and University College London utilized data from the CannTeen study, a longitudinal study following participants over a 12-month period with five assessments. A key element of the study was the standardization of THC measurement. The team defined one THC unit as 5 mg of THC – a standard adopted by the United States National Institutes of Health for research funding purposes.
Of the 177 participants who reported cannabis use in the past year, diagnoses were completed for 162 individuals using the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), the authoritative guide used by mental health professionals for classifying and diagnosing mental illnesses. The diagnoses revealed the following breakdown:
- No CUD: 30 adults and 29 adolescents
- Any CUD: 35 adults and 56 adolescents
- Moderate/Severe CUD: 22 adults and 44 adolescents
Weekly THC Limits for Varying Risk Levels
The study pinpointed specific weekly THC consumption levels associated with increased risk of CUD. Researchers found that the optimal cut-offs for any CUD, compared to no CUD, were 8.26 units (41.3 mg) of THC per week for adults and 6.04 units (30.2 mg) per week for adolescents.
For those at risk of moderate or severe CUD, the thresholds were higher: 13.44 units (67.2 mg) per week for adults and 6.45 units (32.25 mg) per week for adolescents.
“Determining risk thresholds for CUD based on quantity of THC could inform harm-reduction strategies to reduce the health burden of CUD,” a researcher stated. “To our knowledge, this is the first study to estimate risk thresholds for CUD based on standard THC units.”
Implications for Public Health and Cannabis Guidelines
The findings have significant implications for the development of public health guidelines surrounding cannabis use. Researchers suggest that these thresholds could be used to create “lower-risk guidelines” for consumers, empowering individuals to make informed choices about their THC consumption and potentially reduce their risk of developing CUD.
“These findings may help to feed into the development of lower-risk guidelines for cannabis use, to aid those who use cannabis and wish to reduce their risk of harm by choosing to consume less THC than the above thresholds per week,” the study authors noted.
This research represents a crucial step forward in understanding the complex relationship between THC consumption and the development of cannabis use disorder, paving the way for more effective harm reduction strategies and informed public health policies.
