Associations between hair-derived cannabinoid levels, self-reported use, and cannabis-related problems

Abstract

Rationale As cannabis potency and cannabis use are increasing in newly legalized markets, it is increasingly important to measure and examine the effects of cannabinoid exposure. Objectives The current study aims to assess how hair-derived cannabinoid concentrations – offering insight into three-month cumulative exposure – are associated with common self-report measures of cannabis use and cannabis use-related problems. Methods 74 near-daily dependent cannabis users self-reported their quantity of cannabis use, cannabis use-related problems, and estimated cannabis potency. Hair samples were provided to quantify Δ9-THC, CBD, and CBN using LC–MS/MS and THC-consumption was verified by analyzing THC-COOH in hair using GC–MS/MS. Results Cannabinoids were detectable in 95.95% of the hair samples from individuals who tested positive on a urine screen for cannabis. Δ9-THC concentrations were positively associated with measures of self-reported potency (relative potency, potency category, and perceived ‘high’), but Δ9-THC, CBD, CBN concentrations and THC/CBD ratio were not associated with self-reported quantity of use. Self-reported potency, but not hair-derived concentrations, were associated with withdrawal and craving. Self-reported quantity of cannabis use, but not cannabinoid concentrations, were associated with cannabis use-related problems. Conclusions The use of hair-derived cannabinoid quantification is supported for detecting cannabis use in near-daily users, but the lack of associations between hair-derived cannabinoid concentrations and self-report measures of use does not support the use of hair analyses alone for quantification of cannabinoid exposure. Further research comparing hair-derived cannabinoid concentrations with other biological matrices (e.g. plasma) and self-report is necessary to further evaluate the validity of hair analyses for this purpose.

Cannabinoids in Hair and Their Prospective Association with Mental and Physical Health Outcomes in Adolescents

“…THC and CBD), indicate exposure to cannabis, and THC's metabolite, 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH), which indicates bio-verified cannabis consumption (Hill et al, 2016). Further, hair cannabinoids offer a unique qualitative impression of frequency of cannabis consumption, as concentrations positively correlate with self-reported use (Taylor et al, 2017) and, in some instances, with cannabinoid potency (Kroon et al, 2024). Comparing hair toxicology data to self-reported substance use reveals that self-report underestimates the frequency of substance use in early adolescents (Wade et al, 2023) and, in young adults, underreports exposure by 30% to 60% (Steinhoff et al, 2023).…”