'Standard THC units': a proposal to standardize dose across all cannabis products and methods of administration

被引:149
作者
Freeman, Tom P. [1 ,2 ,3 ]
Lorenzetti, Valentina [4 ]
机构
[1] Univ Bath, Adda & Mental Hlth Grow AIM, Dept Psychol, 10 West, Bath BA2 7AY, Avon, England
[2] Kings Coll London, Natl Addict Ctr, London, England
[3] UCL, Clin Psychopharmacol Unit, London, England
[4] Australian Catholic Univ, Sch Behav & Hlth Sci, Fitznoy, Vic, Australia
关键词
CBD; cannabis; harm reduction; safety guidelines; standard unit; THC; HUMAN-BEHAVIOR; DOUBLE-BLIND; POTENCY; RISK; DELTA-9-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL; USERS; DELTA(9)-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL; PSYCHOSIS; COGNITION; SYMPTOMS;
D O I
10.1111/add.14842
中图分类号
R194 [卫生标准、卫生检查、医药管理];
学科分类号
摘要
Background and Aims Cannabis products are becoming increasingly diverse, and vary considerably in concentrations of increment (9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Higher doses of THC can increase the risk of harm from cannabis, while CBD may partially offset some of these effects. Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines currently lack recommendations based on quantity of use, and could be improved by implementing standard units. However, there is currently no consensus on how units should be measured or standardized among different cannabis products or methods of administration. Argument Existing proposals for standard cannabis units have been based on specific methods of administration (e.g. joints) and these may not capture other methods, including pipes, bongs, blunts, dabbing, vaporizers, vape pens, edibles and liquids. Other proposals (e.g. grams of cannabis) cannot account for heterogeneity in THC concentrations among different cannabis products. Similar to alcohol units, we argue that standard cannabis units should reflect the quantity of primary active pharmacological constituents (dose of THC). On the basis of experimental and ecological data, public health considerations and existing policy, we propose that a 'standard THC unit' should be fixed at 5 mg THC for all cannabis products and methods of administration. If supported by sufficient evidence in future, consumption of standard CBD units might offer an additional strategy for harm reduction. Conclusions Standard increment (9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) units can potentially be applied among all cannabis products and methods of administration to guide consumers and promote safer patterns of use.
引用
收藏
页码:1207 / 1216
页数:10
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