How different ways of using cannabis affect outcomes depends on how often you use each method | Research

The takeaway

The consequences of using edibles, vaping, or smoking cannabis varied depending on how frequently individuals used each specific method.

Cannabis consumers interested in harm reduction, clinicians advising patients on consumption methods, and public health researchers studying cannabis use patterns.

Infrequent edible users experienced more consequences than frequent edible users

What the researchers found

People who used edibles infrequently experienced more negative consequences from edibles compared to smoking, while frequent edible users did not show this difference.

Why it matters

Most cannabis research treats all consumption as equal, but this study shows that the effects of different modes depend on individual usage patterns, suggesting harm reduction advice should account for personal experience with each method.

The numbers in context

338 participants completed daily assessments over 30 days. Six modes of use were tracked: smoking, vaping plant material, vaping concentrates, dabbing, edibles, and multiple modes.

How the study worked

30-day ecological momentary assessment study with 338 sexual minority women and gender diverse young adults, tracking cannabis use events in real time across different consumption modes.

What this study cannot tell us

The sample was limited to sexual minority women and gender diverse individuals assigned female at birth, so findings may not generalize to other populations. Self-reported data from daily assessments may be subject to recall bias.

How to read the evidence

Ecological momentary assessment provides real-time data, but the observational design and specific population limit causal claims and generalizability.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

As cannabis markets expand with more product types, understanding how experience with each consumption method shapes outcomes becomes increasingly relevant for both consumers and clinicians.

Questions still open

What specific protective behaviors do frequent users of particular modes develop? Do these patterns hold across different demographic groups?

Common questions

Does the way you consume cannabis change how it affects you?

This study found that the consequences of different consumption methods varied depending on how often someone used each specific method, suggesting that experience with a particular mode matters.

Are edibles riskier than smoking cannabis?

For infrequent edible users, the study found more negative consequences compared to smoking. However, frequent edible users did not show this pattern, suggesting familiarity with the method plays a role.

Read the original research

Event-Level Differences in Quantity, Frequency, and Consequences of Cannabis Use by Modes of Use Among Sexual Minority Women and Gender Diverse Individuals.

Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 86(5), 714-723

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Dyar, Christina; Green, Elise; Rhew, Isaac C; Lee, Christine M. (2025). Event-Level Differences in Quantity, Frequency, and Consequences of Cannabis Use by Modes of Use Among Sexual Minority Women and Gender Diverse Individuals.. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 86(5), 714-723. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.24-00348