Background:
Cannabis is the most used illegal drug in the UK. However, data on cannabis use beyond prevalence and frequency of use is lacking, especially at a time of global change surrounding cannabis policies. This presentation explores a rich data source on cannabis use in the UK, with the aim to examine cannabis product use (e.g., dried flower, edibles, vapes), their self-reported effects, and the perceptions of harm of these products.
Methods:
Findings will be presented from the first year of UK data (2023) from the International Cannabis Policy Study, a national repeat cross-sectional study. The presentation will focus on respondents aged 16-65 who had consumed cannabis in the past 12-months (n=1,590) for cannabis outcomes and consumers and non-consumers (n=3,444) for risk perception outcomes. Weighted regression models will be used to examine associations between cannabis outcomes, demographics, and indicators of problematic use.
Findings and conclusions:
The current presentation will first display cannabis products used in the UK and the associations between use of each product type and reasons for use (medical only, non-medical only, both) and sociodemographic variables. Across each cannabis product, data will be presented on a consumers’ self-reported ease of dosing, how ‘high’ they felt, and whether this was the desired level of ‘high’. Next, data will be presented on perceptions of harm across different cannabis products among consumers and non-consumers. Understanding cannabis consumers product use, experience, and perceptions is important for harm reduction messaging and to help inform targeted interventions for prevention and treatment in the UK.