Four Types of Cannabis Users and How They Differ When Trying to Quit | Research

The takeaway

Cannabis users fall into distinct profiles, and those who escalated use quickly had the most quit attempts while long-term heavy users were least likely to successfully reduce.

Addiction counselors, public health professionals, and cannabis users considering reducing their use.

42% were low-risk users; 24% were long-term high severity with the worst quit outcomes

What the researchers found

Four profiles emerged: low-risk (42%), rapidly escalating high-risk (27%), long-term high severity (24%), and long-term lower severity (7%). The rapidly escalating group had attempted to cut down more times than any other group. In the long-term high severity group, more participants found their use stayed the same or worsened after their last cessation attempt.

Why it matters

One-size-fits-all quit programs may not work for cannabis. Identifying distinct user profiles could help match people to the right level of intervention.

The numbers in context

Low-risk: n=62 (42%); rapidly escalating high-risk: n=40 (27%); long-term high severity: n=35 (24%); long-term lower severity: n=10 (7%). 147 total participants.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional study of 147 Canadian adults who had attempted to decrease or quit cannabis. Participants were recruited from community (57%) and crowdsourcing (43%). Latent Profile Analysis was used to identify user profiles based on demographics, substance use patterns, mental health symptoms, and quality of life.

What this study cannot tell us

Small sample size (n=147), especially for the long-term lower severity group (n=10). Cross-sectional design cannot show how profiles develop over time. Self-selected sample of people who had already tried to quit.

How to read the evidence

Small cross-sectional sample with self-selected participants limits generalizability.

When this study was published

Published in 2024 with data collected post-legalization in Canada.

The bigger picture

As cannabis legalization expands, more people may seek help reducing their use. Understanding that different user profiles respond differently to cessation efforts could improve treatment outcomes and resource allocation.

Questions still open

Would tailored cessation interventions based on user profile improve quit rates?
How do these profiles develop over time, and can early identification prevent escalation?

Common questions

Are all cannabis users the same?

No. This study found four distinct profiles ranging from low-risk to long-term high severity, each with different patterns and cessation experiences.

Which type of cannabis user has the hardest time quitting?

Long-term high severity users were most likely to report that their use stayed the same or worsened after trying to quit.

Read the original research

Profiles of cannabis users and impact on cannabis cessation.

PloS one, 19(6), e0305088

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

MacQuarrie, Amy L; Brunelle, Caroline. (2024). Profiles of cannabis users and impact on cannabis cessation.. PloS one, 19(6), e0305088. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305088