Medical Cannabis Patients Are Widely Using Minor Cannabinoids Like CBG, CBN, and Delta-8
A survey of 1,721 medical cannabis patients found widespread use of minor cannabinoids including delta-8 THC, THCA, CBG, and CBN, with many patients substituting cannabis for prescription medications.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The most commonly used cannabinoids were CBD, delta-9 THC, delta-8 THC, and THCA. The majority reported stopping one or more pharmaceutical medications because of their medical cannabis use.
Key Numbers
1,721 medical cannabis patients surveyed. Most common methods: smoking flower, vape pen/cartridge, edibles. Majority stopped one or more pharmaceuticals.
How They Did This
Survey of 1,721 US medical cannabis patients assessing patterns of use and motivations across a wide variety of cannabinoid products.
Why This Research Matters
The cannabinoid marketplace has expanded dramatically, but research and regulation have not kept pace.
The Bigger Picture
Patients are making treatment decisions about compounds like CBG, CBN, and delta-8 THC with very limited clinical data.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-selected sample. Self-reported data. No verification of medications discontinued or clinical outcomes.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are patients achieving better outcomes with minor cannabinoids?
- ?What are the safety profiles of daily CBG, CBN, or THCA use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Majority of 1,721 medical cannabis patients stopped at least one pharmaceutical after starting cannabis
- Evidence Grade:
- Large survey with broad cannabinoid coverage; moderate because of sample size despite self-selection.
- Study Age:
- 2025 study capturing current cannabinoid market trends
- Original Title:
- Minor Cannabinoid Use Among Medical Cannabis Patients.
- Published In:
- Journal of psychoactive drugs, 1-10 (2025)
- Authors:
- Cuttler, Carrie(13), Boehnke, Kevin F(22), Doucette, Mitchell L(3), Wilson-Poe, Adrianne R, Kruger, Daniel J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06281
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What are minor cannabinoids?
Compounds found in cannabis in smaller quantities than THC and CBD. They include CBG, CBN, THCA, delta-8 THC, and others.
Is it safe to stop prescription medications and use cannabis instead?
This study did not evaluate whether it was medically appropriate. Stopping prescription medications without medical guidance can be dangerous.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06281APA
Cuttler, Carrie; Boehnke, Kevin F; Doucette, Mitchell L; Wilson-Poe, Adrianne R; Kruger, Daniel J. (2025). Minor Cannabinoid Use Among Medical Cannabis Patients.. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2025.2607725
MLA
Cuttler, Carrie, et al. "Minor Cannabinoid Use Among Medical Cannabis Patients.." Journal of psychoactive drugs, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2025.2607725
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Minor Cannabinoid Use Among Medical Cannabis Patients." RTHC-06281. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/cuttler-2025-minor-cannabinoid-use-among
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.