More than a third of medical cannabis patients also used nicotine products
Among 697 medical cannabis dispensary patients, 39.3% currently used nicotine, with route of nicotine administration (smoking vs vaping) predicting how patients consumed their cannabis.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
39.3% of medical cannabis patients reported current nicotine use, higher than the general population. E-cigarette users were approximately four times more likely to vape rather than smoke their cannabis. Nearly half of cigarette smokers planned to quit within 6 months.
Key Numbers
697 patients. 39.3% current nicotine users. E-cigarette users 4x more likely to vape cannabis vs smoke it. 46.8% of cigarette smokers planned to quit in next 6 months. 31.6% planned to quit in next month. Psychiatric conditions associated with nicotine use and higher quit motivation.
How They Did This
Survey of 697 patients attending a medical marijuana dispensary (75.3% White, 60% male). Examined nicotine use, motivation to quit, routes of administration for both nicotine and cannabis, and qualifying medical conditions.
Why This Research Matters
If the way people use nicotine predicts how they use cannabis, dispensaries could leverage this relationship to steer patients toward less harmful consumption methods.
The Bigger Picture
The high rate of nicotine use among medical cannabis patients represents both a health concern and an opportunity. Dispensaries could serve as an unconventional touchpoint for smoking cessation resources.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single-dispensary sample, so results may not generalize to all medical cannabis populations. Self-reported data. Cross-sectional design cannot determine whether cannabis use influenced nicotine behaviors.
Questions This Raises
- ?Should dispensaries routinely screen for nicotine use and offer cessation resources?
- ?Does switching cannabis consumption method help patients also switch their nicotine consumption method?
- ?Do psychiatric patients who use cannabis have different nicotine patterns than those who do not?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 39.3% of medical cannabis patients also used nicotine
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: substantial sample size at a medical dispensary, but single site and self-reported data.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Tobacco/nicotine use among individuals using cannabis for therapeutic purposes.
- Published In:
- The American journal on addictions, 31(6), 486-493 (2022)
- Authors:
- Steinberg, Marc L, Rosen, Rachel L, Billingsley, Benjamin, Shah, Drashya, Bender, Michele, Shargo, Kyra, Aamir, Affan, Bridgeman, Mary Barna
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04243
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why does nicotine use matter for cannabis patients?
Smoking is a harmful delivery method regardless of the substance. If dispensary staff know a patient also smokes cigarettes, recommending vaporized cannabis could align with their existing nicotine habits and reduce combustion-related harm.
Did many smokers want to quit?
Yes. Nearly 80% of cigarette-smoking patients expressed plans to quit within 6 months, suggesting high readiness for cessation support.
Is nicotine use higher in medical cannabis patients than the general population?
Yes. The 39.3% nicotine use rate is substantially higher than the general adult population rate, consistent with known overlap between cannabis and nicotine use.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04243APA
Steinberg, Marc L; Rosen, Rachel L; Billingsley, Benjamin; Shah, Drashya; Bender, Michele; Shargo, Kyra; Aamir, Affan; Bridgeman, Mary Barna. (2022). Tobacco/nicotine use among individuals using cannabis for therapeutic purposes.. The American journal on addictions, 31(6), 486-493. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.13323
MLA
Steinberg, Marc L, et al. "Tobacco/nicotine use among individuals using cannabis for therapeutic purposes.." The American journal on addictions, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.13323
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Tobacco/nicotine use among individuals using cannabis for th..." RTHC-04243. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/steinberg-2022-tobacconicotine-use-among-individuals
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.