Nearly Half of Young Cannabis Users Also Use Delta-8 Products — With More Consequences | Research

The takeaway

45.6% of young adult cannabis users also use derived products like delta-8 THC, driven by higher enhancement and coping motives, with co-use linked to more consequences.

Substance use prevention specialists, cannabis regulators, youth health providers

What the researchers found

Among past-month cannabis users, 54.4% used cannabis only while 45.6% co-used cannabis and DICPs. Greater enhancement and coping motives predicted co-use. Cannabis-DICP co-use was associated with greater psychophysiological and sociobehavioral consequences. Consequences were bidirectionally associated with motives — higher consequences predicted stronger motives, which predicted more co-use.

Why it matters

Delta-8 and other derived products have exploded in popularity but are essentially unregulated. Nearly half of cannabis users adding these products — with more consequences — represents a rapidly growing public health concern.

The numbers in context

1,968 past-month cannabis users analyzed. 54.4% cannabis-only, 45.6% cannabis+DICP co-use. Enhancement and coping motives predicted co-use. Co-use associated with greater psychophysiological and sociobehavioral consequences. Bidirectional mediation confirmed.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional mediation analysis of 1,968 past-month cannabis users (from 4,031 surveyed US young adults aged 18-34). Two mediation models examined: motives → use category → consequences, and consequences → motives → use category.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional design cannot establish temporal ordering despite mediation models. Self-reported use and consequences. ~50% cannabis user design may limit generalizability. DICP category is broad (delta-8, delta-10, etc.).

How to read the evidence

Large sample with sophisticated mediation analysis, limited by cross-sectional design and self-reported data.

When this study was published

Published 2026 with 2023 survey data, capturing the peak of the DICP market.

The bigger picture

The finding that consequences drive stronger motives which drive more co-use suggests a vicious cycle: people experiencing problems from cannabis use may escalate to include DICPs, creating more problems, stronger motives, and deeper engagement.

Questions still open

Do DICP users recognize they're using potentially riskier products? Would DICP regulation reduce co-use consequences? Are coping-motivated users at particular risk of escalation?

Common questions

Are young people combining regular cannabis with delta-8 products?

Yes — nearly half (45.6%) of young adult cannabis users also use derived products like delta-8 THC, driven by desires for enhanced effects and emotional coping.

Is co-using cannabis and delta-8 products riskier?

The study found co-users experienced more negative consequences — both physical/psychological and social/behavioral — compared to cannabis-only users, and these consequences fed back into stronger motives for continued co-use.

Read the original research

Cannabis and Derived Cannabis Use, Motives, and Consequences Among US Young Adults: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Mediation Study.

Substance use & addiction journal, 47(1), 57-67

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

LoParco, Cassidy R; Cui, Yuxian; Rossheim, Matthew E; Chakraborty, Rishika; Speer, Morgan; Chen-Sankey, Julia; Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A; Berg, Carla J. (2026). Cannabis and Derived Cannabis Use, Motives, and Consequences Among US Young Adults: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Mediation Study.. Substance use & addiction journal, 47(1), 57-67. https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342251355094