Abstract
BackgroundMobile technology is pervasive and widely used to obtain information about drugs such as cannabis, especially in a climate of rapidly changing cannabis policy; yet the content of available cannabis apps is largely unknown. Understanding the resources available to those searching for cannabis apps will clarify how this technology is being used to reflect and influence cannabis use behavior.ObjectiveWe investigated the content of 59 cannabis-related mobile apps for Apple and Android devices as of November 26, 2014.MethodsThe Apple and Google Play app stores were searched using the terms “cannabis” and “marijuana.” Three trained coders classified the top 20 apps for each term and each store, using a coding guide. Apps were examined for the presence of 20 content codes derived by the researchers.ResultsTotal apps available for each search term were 124 for cannabis and 218 for marijuana in the Apple App Store, and 250 each for cannabis and marijuana on Google Play. The top 20 apps in each category in each store were coded for 59 independent apps (30 Apple, 29 Google Play). The three most common content areas were cannabis strain classification (33.9%), facts about cannabis (20.3%), and games (20.3%). In the Apple App Store, most apps were free (77%), all were rated “17+” years, and the average user rating was 3.9/5 stars. The most popular apps provided cannabis strain classifications (50%), dispensary information (27%), or general facts about cannabis (27%). Only one app (3%) provided information or resources related to cannabis abuse, addiction, or treatment. On Google Play, most apps were free (93%), rated “high maturity” (79%), and the average user rating was 4.1/5. The most popular app types offered games (28%), phone utilities (eg, wallpaper, clock; 21%) and cannabis food recipes (21%); no apps addressed abuse, addiction, or treatment.ConclusionsCannabis apps are generally free and highly rated. Apps were most often informational (facts, strain classification), or recreational (games), likely reflecting and influencing the growing acceptance of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. Apps addressing addiction or cessation were underrepresented in the most popular cannabis mobile apps. Differences among apps for Apple and Android platforms likely reflect differences in the population of users, developer choice, and platform regulations.
Highlights
Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in the United States, with 19.8 million US residents (7.5%) age 12 or older reporting past-month use in 2013 [1]
Cannabis use and its legalization are contested issues, as policy changes have led to increases in the availability of cannabis for medical and recreational use in the United States, and problems associated with using cannabis [3]
In June 2014, Apple announced that 75 billion apps had been downloaded from its App Store for the iPhone/iPad [5], and a June 2014 report showed that downloads from Google Play for Android devices had reached roughly 80 billion [6]
Summary
Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in the United States, with 19.8 million US residents (7.5%) age 12 or older reporting past-month use in 2013 [1]. Cannabis remains a Schedule I substance under US federal law; two US states have legalized retail cannabis, two additional states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to legalize use, and 33 states and Guam have legalized medical cannabis use These state-level policy changes in the United States and the continued tension between federal and state laws have led to a proliferation of cannabis-related information in the United States and across the world. Results: Total apps available for each search term were 124 for cannabis and 218 for marijuana in the Apple App Store, and 250 each for cannabis and marijuana on Google Play. Apps were most often informational (facts, strain classification), or recreational (games), likely reflecting and influencing the growing acceptance of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. Differences among apps for Apple and Android platforms likely reflect differences in the population of users, developer choice, and platform regulations
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