Young adult cannabis users fell into four distinct profiles based on spending, price sensitivity, and product preferences, with higher-spending groups showing more problematic use.
Cannabis consumers; public health researchers; cannabis policy analysts
Higher-spending profiles showed significantly more problematic use
What the researchers found
Latent class analysis identified four profiles: price-insensitive low-spend (36%), high-spend heavy users (32%), moderate-spend oil/other users (24%), and price-sensitive high-spend mixed users (8%). All groups except the low-spend group showed higher problematic use.
Why it matters
Understanding how cannabis spending and use patterns cluster helps identify which consumer profiles may be at greatest risk for problematic use.
The numbers in context
Class 1: 36.1% (price-insensitive, low-spend). Class 2: 31.9% (high-spend, high-frequency). Class 3: 24.1% (moderate-spend, oil/other). Class 4: 7.9% (price-sensitive, high-spend, mixed).
How the study worked
Survey of 1,359 US young adults reporting past-month cannabis use (mean age 26.95). Latent class analysis used cost perception, spending, use frequency, and product type.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design. Self-reported spending may be inaccurate. Convenience sample.
How to read the evidence
Large cross-sectional survey with latent class analysis; moderate because of strong methodology but cross-sectional design.
When this study was published
2025 publication using 2024 survey data
The bigger picture
The link between higher spending and problematic use echoes patterns seen with alcohol.
Questions still open
- Would price-based policies reduce problematic cannabis use? Do spending profiles change over time?
Common questions
What does "problematic use" mean in this context?
Does spending more on cannabis mean someone has a problem?
Read the original research
Profiles of cannabis use and expense-related factors among US young adults.
Addictive behaviors, 170, 108428
Citation
Cui, Yuxian; McCready, Darcey M; Romm, Katelyn F; LoParco, Cassidy R; Speer, Morgan; Chakraborty, Rishika; Williams, Jessica; Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A; Wang, Yan; Yang, Y Tony; Berg, Carla J. (2025). Profiles of cannabis use and expense-related factors among US young adults.. Addictive behaviors, 170, 108428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108428
Explore the wider topic
- How to Talk to Your Teenager About Weed (Without Losing Them)
- My Kid's Friends Smoke Weed: A Parent's Guide
- I Smoke Weed But Don't Want My Kids To: Navigating the Hypocrisy
- Quitting Weed as a Parent: Why It Is the Hardest and Most Important Quit
- Quitting Weed as a Teen or Young Adult
- My Kid Is Smoking Weed: A Parent's Guide