Higher average potency across the United States is associated with progression to first cannabis use disorder symptom

Abstract

Objective: To determine if higher potency cannabis is associated with earlier progression to regular cannabis use, daily cannabis use, and cannabis use disorder symptom onset. Methods: Data sources were the Michigan Longitudinal Study, an ongoing prospective, high-risk family study investigating the course and predictors for substance use disorders among youth beginning prior to school entry and time-parallel national average trends in delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (i.e., psychoactive compound in cannabis). The national average trends in delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol were used to estimate potency level for the individual. Only cannabis users were included in analyses (n = 527). Results: Cox regression showed an increased risk of progression from cannabis initiation to cannabis use disorder symptom onset by 1.41 times (p