Event-level associations among THC, CBD, social context, and subjective effects during Cannabis use episodes

Limited research considers the quantity and potency of cannabis products along with social context on the subjective effects of real-world cannabis use.

This study examined the subjective effects of acute use as a function of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) doses and social context during cannabis use episodes.

Ninety-six participants (43.75% male, M_age = 35.73) reporting weekly cannabis use completed a baseline self-report battery assessing cannabis use. Then, THC and CBD potency and quantity of the cannabis product, social context, and subjective experience were assessed through self-initiated surveys after cannabis use episodes during a 14-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA).

Greater feeling high and liking were significantly associated with a higher THC dose than one's average (b = 0.03, p < 0.001; b = 0.02, p < 0.001) and social use (b = 0.38, p < 0.001; b = 0.20, p = 0.01). A higher CBD dose than one's average (b = 0.01, p = 0.04) was significantly associated with greater liking. A significant interaction effect of THC dose and social context (b = 0.01, p = 0.02) was observed such that solitary use had a negative association between THC dose and disliking (b = -0.01, p = 0.04), and social use had a null association (b = 0.003, p = 0.25). Individuals with greater cannabis problems reported lower liking (b = -0.18, p = 0.03) and higher disliking (b = 0.08, p = 0.02), but not feeling high, on average, across the EMA protocol.

Social context plays an important role in the subjective experience of cannabis use. Interventions targeting cannabis problems could highlight the evidence that individuals with greater cannabis problems might experience less liking but more disliking in general across use episodes to effectively challenge expectancies/motives of use.