(323) - Marijuana consumption patterns in young adults with and without chronic pain

Abstract

Despite increased investigation of marijuana for pain relief, little research has focused on marijuana use patterns among young adults with chronic pain. The aim of the current study was to compare preferred cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potency and methods of marijuana administration in young adult recreational marijuana users with and without chronic pain. We hypothesized that individuals experiencing chronic pain would report using marijuana with higher CBD and lower THC compared to the group without pain. We also hypothesized that individuals with chronic pain would be more likely to use a wider range of administration methods. In an ongoing study, we recruited a community sample of 39 young adult recreational marijuana users (ages 19–29; 49% male; 19 with weekly or more frequent moderate intensity pain of at least three months duration) in the Pacific Northwest. Individuals completed an online survey of their pain history and marijuana consumption patterns. Results revealed no difference between groups with respect to estimated CBD or THC content of their preferred strains. Young adults with chronic pain did report more frequent consumption via inhalation [F(1,37) = 6.33, p = .02)], edibles [F(1,37) = 9.30, p = .004], and use of concentrates [F(1,37) = 8.3, p = .007] compared to users without pain. For all users, inhalation was the most common method of administration, with 53% of the sample reporting daily smoking or vaporizing. Users with chronic pain reported more frequent within day smoking sessions (F(1, 36) = 9.49, p = .004], reporting an average of three sessions per day, compared to approximately 2 sessions per day for young adults without pain. Findings suggest that individuals with chronic pain endorse a wider variety of administration methods and more frequent use, though no differences in preferred CBD or THC potency. Future research is needed to determine whether such consumption patterns differentially affect addiction risk among young adult users with chronic pain.