How You Use Cannabis Matters: Bongs Predicted the Most Health Effects in Young Adults
An EMA study of 206 young adult cannabis users found that consumption method significantly predicted health outcomes, with bongs causing the most physical and psychological effects and sex differences emerging across methods.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Bong use predicted significantly more physical and psychological health effects than other methods. Joint use was associated with more physical effects in males and more psychological effects in females. Edible use predicted fewer physical effects in females. Hand pipe use predicted more psychological effects in females. Effects varied significantly by both mode of use and sex.
Key Numbers
206 participants (62% female), 14-day EMA. Bongs: significantly more physical and psychological effects. Joints: more physical effects (males), more psychological effects (females). Edibles: fewer physical effects (females). Hand pipes: more psychological effects (females).
How They Did This
Ecological momentary assessment with 206 young adult post-secondary students (62% female) who regularly used cannabis. Participants completed two daily surveys on their phones for 14 days, reporting details of their most recent cannabis use and associated effects. Multilevel modeling analyzed mode-effect relationships.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis products diversify, understanding how different consumption methods affect users differently, and how those effects vary by sex, is essential for harm reduction messaging and clinical guidance.
The Bigger Picture
Most cannabis research treats all use the same way, but this study demonstrates that how you consume cannabis matters as much as how much you consume. This has implications for both harm reduction and regulation.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported effects and consumption details. 14-day study period may not capture all patterns. Post-secondary students may not represent all young adult users. Could not control for dose across methods. EMA completion rates may vary.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why do bongs produce the most effects?
- ?Is it the larger doses typically consumed?
- ?Do sex differences in effects reflect biological differences or different use patterns?
- ?Should harm reduction messages be tailored by consumption method?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Bongs predicted the most physical and psychological effects, while edibles predicted the fewest physical effects in females
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary: EMA design captures real-world use but relies on self-report, with a moderate sample limited to post-secondary students.
- Study Age:
- 2025 study.
- Original Title:
- Mode Matters: Investigating the Associations Between Mode of Cannabis Use and Self-Reported Physical and Psychological Effects.
- Published In:
- Substance use & misuse, 60(14), 2244-2253 (2025)
- Authors:
- MacDonald-Spracklin, Rachael(5), DeWolf, Darien, Thompson, Kara(3)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07012
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Which way of using cannabis is safest?
This study found edibles predicted the fewest physical health effects (in females), while bongs predicted the most effects overall. However, "safest" depends on many factors including dose and individual response.
Do men and women experience cannabis differently?
Yes. This study found joints caused more physical effects in males but more psychological effects in females, and hand pipes affected females' psychological health more than males'.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07012APA
MacDonald-Spracklin, Rachael; DeWolf, Darien; Thompson, Kara. (2025). Mode Matters: Investigating the Associations Between Mode of Cannabis Use and Self-Reported Physical and Psychological Effects.. Substance use & misuse, 60(14), 2244-2253. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2025.2538733
MLA
MacDonald-Spracklin, Rachael, et al. "Mode Matters: Investigating the Associations Between Mode of Cannabis Use and Self-Reported Physical and Psychological Effects.." Substance use & misuse, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2025.2538733
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Mode Matters: Investigating the Associations Between Mode of..." RTHC-07012. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/macdonald-spracklin-2025-mode-matters-investigating-the
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.