Blunts versus joints: Cannabis use characteristics and consequences among treatment-seeking adults.

Despite the high prevalence of blunt smoking among cannabis users, very few studies examine the clinical profile of blunt smokers relative to those using more common methods of cannabis use, like joints.

This study uses baseline data from the ACCENT study (Achieving Cannabis Cessation – Evaluating N-acetylcysteine Treatment, CTN-0053), a multi-site randomized pharmacotherapy clinical trial within the NIDA Clinical Trials Network, to predict the association between blunt and joint use frequency and cannabis use characteristics (e.g., grams of cannabis used) and consequences (e.g., withdrawal) among past-month cannabis users (N=377) who were screen for study participation.

After controlling for race, age, gender, other forms of cannabis use (including joint use) and nicotine dependence, multivariable linear regression models indicated that the number of days of blunt use in the past month was a significant predictor of the average amount of cannabis per using day, the estimated average cost of cannabis, and Cannabis Withdrawal scores. Frequency of joint use did not significantly predict any of the cannabis use characteristics or consequences.

Conclusions: Blunt smokers may present to treatment with greater amounts of cannabis smoked and more intense withdrawal symptoms, which may adversely impact their likelihood of successful abstinence. Cannabis-dependent blunt smokers may be more likely to benefit from treatment that targets physiological and mood-related withdrawal symptoms.

Related protocols: CTN-0053