Cannabis products and risk perceptions among people who consume and do not consume cannabis in the UK: findings from the International Cannabis Policy Study

Background
Population data on cannabis use—beyond prevalence and frequency of use—in the UK is lacking, yet needed to inform harm reduction messaging about cannabis. This study examined (a) recreational and medical cannabis use; (b) cannabis product use; (c) cannabis risk perceptions via three different routes of administration; (d) how product use and risk perceptions vary by reasons for use and higher risk use.

Methods
Data were from UK respondents of the 2023 International Cannabis Policy Study. National surveys included 3444 UK residents and 1590 people who consumed cannabis in the past year aged 16–65. Weighted logistic regression examined associations between product use, risk perceptions and reasons for use.

Results
50.9% of people who reported consuming cannabis reported doing so for recreational reasons only, 12.1% for medical reasons only, and 31.3% for both reasons. Dried flower was the most consumed product both in the past year (68%). Edibles (38.9%), vape oils (30.5%) and hash (27.5%) were the next commonly consumed products. People who consumed cannabis in the past year that screened positive for higher risk use were more likely to report consuming non-flower products (AOR 3.15, 95% CI 2.17, 4.58) than only dried flower. There were a higher percentage of respondents—regardless of whether they consumed cannabis or not—that reported perceiving consuming edibles daily as low or very low risk than smoking or vaping cannabis daily.

Conclusions
There is diversity in the UK cannabis market in terms of the reasons for use and the products consumed. Understanding product use beyond just ‘cannabis’ and risk perceptions across different routes of administration is important for informing harm reduction messaging and evaluating policies to minimise harm and maximise benefit from both recreational and medical cannabis.