Effects of Age and Sex on Primary Method and Form of Cannabis Use

Abstract

While cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance, few studies have focused on the relationship between sociodemographic factors and primary method or form of cannabis use. The primary aims of this study were to understand the effects of age and sex on primary form (marijuana, concentrates, edibles) and method (joints, blunts, hand pipe, bong, hookah, vaporizer, edibles) of cannabis use. Participants (n=852; n=536 male) completed an online survey that included the ‘Daily Sessions, Frequency, Age of Onset, and Quantity of Cannabis Use Inventory’ used to collect information on the primary method and form of cannabis use in male and female participants divided into young adults ages 18 to 25 (Y) and adults 26 and older (O). Chi square analysis showed a significant effect of sex for primary method (χ2 (1)=122.4, p<.001) and primary form (χ2 (1)=24.6, p<.001) of cannabis use. Post hoc comparisons using Bonferroni corrections (adjusted p=0.002) showed that males were significantly more likely to report blunts (M=35%; F=10%), while females were significantly more likely to report joints (F=16%; M=8%) and edibles (F=15%; M=4%) as their primary method of cannabis use. Males were also significantly more likely to report marijuana (M=66%; F=55%), while females were significantly more likely to endorse edibles (F=17%; M=10%) as their primary form of cannabis use. Chi square analysis showed a significant effect of age for primary method (χ2 (1)=139.9, p<.001) of cannabis use. Young adults were significantly more likely to report using bongs (Y=19%; O=11%), vaporizers (Y=26%; O=9%), and edibles (Y=12%; O=5%), while participants 26 or older were significantly more likely to report using blunts (O=39%; Y=10%) as their primary method of cannabis use. There were no significant differences between age groups for the primary form of cannabis use. Findings from this study suggest there are significant effects of age and sex on primary method and form of cannabis use. Future studies should examine how other sociodemographic factors may affect cannabis use and how method and form of cannabis use affect long-term health outcomes.