Cannabis Consumer Patterns, Adverse Events, and Cannabis Risk Beliefs: A Latent Profile Analysis in WA State

Cannabis use has changed with changing availability of different product types. This cross-sectional study used data from Washington State (WA) residents between 16-65 years old collected between 2019 and 2022 as part of the International Cannabis Policy Study to identify user profiles through Latent Profile Analysis. 

Six groups were described that differed by frequency of use of different cannabis products/modes, ranging from the lowest use group that averaged weekly use of primarily flower to a group characterized by daily use of concentrates. Contrasting with previous studies that indicate that adverse events increase with THC levels and frequency of use, this group reported significantly fewer adverse events than the next most frequent users who used a greater variety of product types. These findings may be influenced by transitions between groups, which is not captured in this cross-sectional study. The four groups with most frequent use across multiple modes, were all significantly more likely to self-identify as “addicted” than the lowest use, primarily flower, group. There were few differences in risk beliefs between groups. 

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