Adolescents who smoked both cannabis and cigarettes daily wanted more cigarettes but were more price-sensitive
Among adolescent daily cigarette smokers, those who also used cannabis daily reported higher cigarette demand but were more sensitive to price increases, suggesting economic interventions could be particularly effective for dual users.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Daily cannabis-using adolescents showed significantly higher cigarette demand intensity than non-users. However, daily cannabis users were also more sensitive to cigarette price changes (higher alpha) than non-daily and non-users, meaning their demand dropped more steeply as price increased. No differences in delay discounting (impulsivity) were found by cannabis use status.
Key Numbers
N = 70 adolescents aged 17-19. Daily cannabis users showed higher cigarette demand intensity. Daily cannabis users showed greater price sensitivity (alpha). No difference in delay discounting across groups.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 70 adolescents aged 17-19 who smoked at least 1 cigarette per day. Participants completed timeline follow-back for 30-day cannabis use, a Cigarette Purchase Task (behavioral economic demand), and a Delay Discounting Task. Three groups: daily, non-daily, and no cannabis use.
Why This Research Matters
Adolescent cannabis and tobacco co-use is increasing. Understanding how cannabis use alters the reinforcing value of cigarettes can inform pricing policies and targeted cessation strategies for dual-using youth.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that daily cannabis users want more cigarettes but are more price-responsive suggests that tobacco tax policy could disproportionately affect dual-using youth, potentially as a lever for reducing cigarette consumption in this high-risk group.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very small sample size (n=70) with limited statistical power. Cross-sectional design. Hypothetical purchasing task may not reflect real-world behavior. Only daily cigarette smokers were included.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why does daily cannabis use increase cigarette demand?
- ?Does cannabis create a complementary reinforcement that boosts desire for nicotine?
- ?Would cigarette price increases disproportionately reduce smoking among cannabis co-users?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Higher demand but greater price sensitivity
- Evidence Grade:
- Behavioral economic methodology is well-established, but very small sample limits generalizability and statistical confidence.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication
- Original Title:
- The Relationship between Cannabis Use and Demand for Cigarettes in Adolescents who Smoke Cigarettes.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 277, 112959 (2025)
- Authors:
- Cornacchione Ross, Jennifer(2), Denlinger-Apte, Rachel L, Bello, Mariel S, Tidey, Jennifer W, Colby, Suzanne M, Cassidy, Rachel N
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06257
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why would cannabis users want more cigarettes?
The study found higher demand intensity among daily cannabis users but did not determine the mechanism. Possibilities include cross-reinforcement between nicotine and THC, shared smoking rituals, or cannabis lowering inhibitions around tobacco use.
Could raising cigarette prices help dual-using teens quit?
Possibly. Daily cannabis-using adolescents showed greater price sensitivity, meaning their hypothetical cigarette purchasing dropped more steeply as prices rose, suggesting pricing interventions could be particularly effective for this group.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06257APA
Cornacchione Ross, Jennifer; Denlinger-Apte, Rachel L; Bello, Mariel S; Tidey, Jennifer W; Colby, Suzanne M; Cassidy, Rachel N. (2025). The Relationship between Cannabis Use and Demand for Cigarettes in Adolescents who Smoke Cigarettes.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 277, 112959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112959
MLA
Cornacchione Ross, Jennifer, et al. "The Relationship between Cannabis Use and Demand for Cigarettes in Adolescents who Smoke Cigarettes.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112959
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The Relationship between Cannabis Use and Demand for Cigaret..." RTHC-06257. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/cornacchione-2025-the-relationship-between-cannabis
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.