Descriptive Analyses of Major and Minor Cannabinoid Use in a College Student Sample

Increased availability of cannabinoids warrants characterization of use patterns across specific cannabinoids.

The current study examines various cannabinoids, analyzing frequencies of use, methods of use, and formulations used among a college-aged sample. Participants (N = 299) were recruited via university bulk email and included those who self-reported cannabinoid use in the past 6 months.

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participants' cannabinoid use characteristics. Survey data indicated that most participants (81.61%, n = 244) reported using more than one cannabinoid; on average, participants reported using 3.59 cannabinoids in the past six months. Most cannabinoid users reported using smoked flower, vapes, and edibles and many reported using more than one method of consumption (ranging 9.09-54.34% across cannabinoids). For all cannabinoids, the majority of participants reported typically using in the "early afternoon" or later.

These data show a range of use across cannabinoids in terms of frequency, method, and time of use as well as type of cannabinoid consumed. The current study emphasizes the wide range of use across differing cannabinoid and presents a need for better operationalization of cannabis use in future scientific literature.