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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.).