Frequent cannabis users demonstrate low knowledge of cannabinoid content and dosages

Background: The legal status of cannabis is rapidly evolving, outpacing systematic research and educational efforts. Aims: We investigated knowledge of cannabinoid content and dosages among frequent cannabis users. Methods: A brief survey was administered in April 2019 (N = 472) at a cannabis advocacy event in a state with legal medical and recreational adult cannabis use. Findings: Most participants (67%) used cannabis every day, 85% used cannabis for health or medical purposes. Knowledge of cannabis was mostly from participants’ own experiences (78%), with some receiving information from a medical cannabis caregiver or dispensary (23%) or their primary care provider (18%). The majority reported not knowing the effective dosages of THC (53% of participants) or CBD (68% of participants), other participants gave average estimates of 91 mg and 177 mg, respectively. Participants’ average estimates for high-THC (52%) and high-CBD (53%) as well as low-THC (28%), and low-CBD (30%) strains of cannabis were considerably higher than currently accepted definitions. Men, European Americans, and participants who had medical cannabis cards were more accurate in cannabinoid concentration estimates. Conclusions: Frequent cannabis users reported low knowledge of and substantially overestimated cannabinoid content. The importance of education and research on cannabinoid dosages grows with increasing cannabis accessibility.