Among 472 adults in substance use disorder treatment, dried flower and smoked cannabis dominated use patterns, with THC content as the primary purchase motivator, though some chose CBD products for perceived medical benefits.
Addiction treatment professionals and cannabis users in recovery from other substance use disorders.
89% of current users smoked cannabis flower
What the researchers found
89% of current cannabis users smoked dried flower for non-medical purposes. Edibles were the second most common (53%), with 11% using high-potency products like dabs. Qualitative interviews revealed THC content was the primary driver of product choices, but perceived medical benefits and harm reduction motivated CBD product use. Convenience and familiarity also influenced decisions.
Why it matters
People in SUD treatment represent a high-risk population for cannabis-related harms. Understanding their product preferences and motivations can help clinicians have more informed conversations about cannabis use and tailor harm reduction advice.
The numbers in context
N = 472 survey, 22 interviews. Current users: 89% smoked flower (non-medical), 53% used edibles, 11% used dabs/concentrates. THC content was primary purchase motivator. CBD products chosen for perceived medical/harm-reduction benefits.
How the study worked
Mixed-methods study: online survey of 472 adults who self-reported accessing SUD treatment and lifetime cannabis use, plus in-depth interviews with 22 participants. Quantitative analysis described product characteristics; qualitative descriptive analysis explored reasons for product choices among current users.
What this study cannot tell us
Online survey may not reach all SUD treatment patients. Self-reported product use may be imprecise. The qualitative subset (22 participants) may not capture the full range of motivations. Cross-sectional design cannot track how product choices change over time.
How to read the evidence
Mixed-methods study with reasonable sample sizes for both survey and qualitative components. Moderate evidence for use patterns in this specific population.
When this study was published
Published in 2025.
The bigger picture
As cannabis product diversity explodes, understanding what draws high-risk users to specific products is essential. The finding that SUD treatment patients are attracted primarily to THC potency, while a subset seeks CBD for harm reduction, reflects the dual nature of cannabis in this population.
Questions still open
- Would providing harm reduction guidance about product potency within SUD treatment improve outcomes? Are patients who gravitate toward CBD products at lower risk than those seeking high-THC products?
Common questions
Is cannabis use safe for people in addiction treatment?
Why are concentrates and dabs concerning?
Read the original research
Cannabis Use Characteristics and Reasons for Product Choices Among Patients Accessing Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: A Mixed-Methods Study.
Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 8(2), 67-84
Citation
Matheson, Justin; Saini, Harseerat; Haines-Saah, Rebecca; Sanches, Marcos; Sloan, Matthew E; Zaweel, Adam; Hassan, Ahmed; Buckley, Leslie; Porathl, Amy; MacKillop, James; Hendershot, Christian S; Kloiber, Stefan; Le Foll, Bernard. (2025). Cannabis Use Characteristics and Reasons for Product Choices Among Patients Accessing Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: A Mixed-Methods Study.. Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 8(2), 67-84. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis/2025/000309
Explore the wider topic
- Surviving 4/20 Sober: A Practical Survival Guide
- CBT for Cannabis Recovery: How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Works
- Physical vs Psychological Cannabis Dependence: What Science Actually Shows
- The Gap Between Cannabis Perception and Science: Why What We Believe Outpaces What We Know
- The Cannabis Relapse Cycle: Quit, Feel Good, Get Complacent, Repeat
- Cannabis Use Disorder: Am I Addicted? Self-Assessment Guide
- Cold Turkey vs Tapering: Which Way to Quit Weed
- Cross-Addiction After Quitting Weed: When One Habit Replaces Another
- Dating Sober After Years of Being High: What Nobody Tells You
- Exercise as Medicine: Working Out After Quitting Weed
- Grieving Weed Itself: Mourning the Loss of a Companion
- How to Help Someone Quit Weed (When They're Not Ready)
- How to Quit Weed: A No-Judgment Step by Step Guide
- Is Weed Addictive? What the Research Actually Shows
- Is Cannabis Addictive? What the DSM-5 and Brain Science Say
- Journaling Through Weed Withdrawal: Why Writing Helps You Heal
- MA vs SMART Recovery vs Therapy: Comparing Your Options
- Meditation and Mindfulness for Weed Withdrawal
- Your Partner Still Smokes Weed: How to Navigate It
- Quitting Weed While Your Partner Still Smokes
- The Pink Cloud Effect: When Quitting Weed Feels Too Good
- How to Quit Smoking Weed Cold Turkey: What to Expect
- Quit Weed or Cut Back: Which Is Right for You?
- I Quit Weed and Regret It: An Honest Look at Non-Linear Recovery
- Quitting Weed in Your 20s: Career, Social Life, Starting Over
- Quitting Weed in Your 30s: It's Not Too Late
- Quitting Weed After 10+ Years of Daily Use: What to Expect
- Quitting Weed and Alcohol Together: What to Know About Dual Cessation
- Quitting Weed During a Life Crisis: Divorce, Job Loss, and Other Bad Timing
- Quitting Weed and Working Out: How Exercise Helps Recovery
- Quitting Weed After Loss: When Grief Comes Flooding Back
- Quitting Weed When It's Legal Everywhere
- Weed Withdrawal Success Stories: Real People Who Made It Through
- Quitting Weed Long Distance: When You Can't Remove Triggers
- Is Rehab Necessary for Weed? An Honest Assessment
- I Relapsed on Weed. Now What? A Practical Reset Guide
- I Relapsed After Quitting Weed: What Now?
- Should I Quit Weed? A Decision Framework (Not a Lecture)
- Signs You May Have Cannabis Use Disorder: An Honest Self-Assessment
- Quitting Weed at Music Festivals and Concerts: A Sober Survival Guide
- Supplements That Actually Help with Weed Withdrawal (And Ones That Don't)
- How to Tell Your Friends You're Quitting Weed
- Relapse Prevention Plan for Cannabis: A CBT-Based Approach
- Why Weed Relapse Happens: The Science Behind Going Back
- Replacing the Ritual: What to Do When You Quit Weed
- How Cannabis Damaged My Relationships: Before and After
- Social Media Detox from Weed Content
- Weed Vape Pen Addiction: Why Vaping Makes It Harder to Quit