Rising cannabis addiction in Canada and worldwide thanks to higher THC concentrations

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Already the second most consumed substance in Canada, use of cannabis increased after its legalization and then again during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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And the combination of increased consumption and higher concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is leading to more people becoming addicted to cannabis, according to a new study.

For a long time it was thought that unlike many other drugs, you couldn’t become addicted to cannabis – but that’s not the case.

“Contrary to popular belief, folks can become addicted to cannabis,” according to Canada.ca. “Continued, frequent, and heavy cannabis use can lead to this physical dependency and addiction.”

“Cannabis addiction can seriously damage your health, social life, schoolwork, work, and financial future,” adds Canada.ca.

And higher levels of THC (above 10 milligrams per gram of THC) increase the number of addicts, which also means more people are more likely to experience psychological consequences, according to the study, published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry last week.

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“One of the highest-quality studies included in our publication found that use of high-potency cannabis was associated with a four-fold increased risk of addiction compared to low-potency cannabis (5 milligrams of THC or less),” said study co-author Tom Freeman, a senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Director of the Addiction and Mental Health Group at the University of Bath in the UK, CNN said.

Similarly, in January 2021, the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) said cannabis use had increased in Canada. They also discussed the negative aspects of a potential addiction.

“We know that regular use of cannabis leads to greater health problems, addiction and other mental disorders,” said lead author Dr. Tara Elton-Marshall, an independent researcher at the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research at CAMH, at the time. “A sustained increase in cannabis use during the first wave of the pandemic is worrying.”

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According to the CDC, about 30% of marijuana users in the United States suffer from cannabis use disorder — the medical term for marijuana addiction.

CNN cited the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction’s finding that the number of people seeking treatment for cannabis addiction has increased by 76% “while the potency of cannabis has continued to increase over the same period”.

CNN said in one gram of herbal cannabis, the dried and harvested tops of female marijuana plants that are typically smoked, THC concentrations increased by about 2.9 milligrams each year, according to a Study 2020 by Freeman and his team at the University of Bath.

In cannabis resin, the sticky brown sap of the plant used to make extracts and concentrates, THC levels increased by about 5.7 milligrams each year from 1975 to 2017, the study found. Concentrated products can reach extremely high THC levels.

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The study also states that cases of marijuana-related psychosis increased as marijuana became more potent.

CAMH advises opting for products with less THC content and more CBD (cannabidiol) when ingesting.

“CBD, another compound in cannabis, may reduce some negative effects like memory problems, paranoia, and high heart rate. Fewer people experience psychotic symptoms or other mental health problems when consuming cannabis with a higher CBD content.”

Statistics from the 2021 Canadian Cannabis Survey show that cannabis use in both male (31% to 29%) and female Canadians (23% to 22%) actually increased in 2021 compared to 2020 (which includes the first waves of the pandemic). has declined slightly.

Information for 2022 is not yet available.