Canada's THC unit: Applications for the legal cannabis market

Shea Wood; Robert Gabrys; Tom Freeman; David Hammond

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104457

Canada's THC unit: Applications for the legal cannabis market

Shea Wood, Robert Gabrys, Tom Freeman, David Hammond

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

The legalization of cannabis in Canada has accelerated the need for a standardized approach to measuring and communicating the amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis products. This article offers an overview of the considerations associated with establishing and implementing a standard THC unit in the Canadian context. The article begins by discussing the applications of a standard THC unit, emphasizing its potential use in product labelling, consumer education, and product reporting and surveillance. The article then examines key considerations for identifying what a Canadian THC unit should be set at, specifically within the context of a country with a regulated commercial cannabis market. This is followed by a discussion of additional considerations related to the adoption of a Canadian THC unit, including its use across various product formats and modes of administration. A significant focus of this article is on prioritizing public health and safety and informed decision-making among adult consumers as the legal cannabis market evolves. Collaboration among various stakeholders, such as government agencies, industry, and public health professionals, is highlighted as crucial for a successful transition to the use of Canada's THC unit.

Original language	English
Article number	104457
Number of pages	7
Journal	International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume	128
Early online date	20 May 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104457
Publication status	Published - 30 Jun 2024

Funding

In 2021, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, together with the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, issued a notice directing all researchers funded by these institutes to adopt a 5 mg standard THC unit ( National Institutes of Health, 2021 ). Endorsement of the 5 mg standard THC unit by the National Institutes of Health and wider adoption of this by the international research community can increase consistency of research practices, facilitate meta-analyses, and strengthen the quality of evidence ( T.P. Freeman & Lorenzetti, 2021 ). This will ultimately help efforts to maximise the potential benefits and minimise the potential harms of THC exposure across a wide range of health outcomes ( Solmi et al., 2023 ). The current paper examines standard THC units from the perspective of implementing this within a country with a legal cannabis market (rather than in research settings alone), which concerns a broader set of considerations, as described below.

Funders	Funder number
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institutes of Health
National Cancer Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Division of Intramural Research, Population Sciences Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Framingham, MA, USA.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Cannabis
Harm reduction
Public health
Safety
Standard unit
THC

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Medicine (miscellaneous)
Health Policy

Access to Document

10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104457Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Canada's THC unit: Applications for the legal cannabis market",

abstract = "The legalization of cannabis in Canada has accelerated the need for a standardized approach to measuring and communicating the amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis products. This article offers an overview of the considerations associated with establishing and implementing a standard THC unit in the Canadian context. The article begins by discussing the applications of a standard THC unit, emphasizing its potential use in product labelling, consumer education, and product reporting and surveillance. The article then examines key considerations for identifying what a Canadian THC unit should be set at, specifically within the context of a country with a regulated commercial cannabis market. This is followed by a discussion of additional considerations related to the adoption of a Canadian THC unit, including its use across various product formats and modes of administration. A significant focus of this article is on prioritizing public health and safety and informed decision-making among adult consumers as the legal cannabis market evolves. Collaboration among various stakeholders, such as government agencies, industry, and public health professionals, is highlighted as crucial for a successful transition to the use of Canada's THC unit.",

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Canada's THC unit: Applications for the legal cannabis market

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this