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. 2024 Jun;241(6):1237-1244.
doi: 10.1007/s00213-024-06558-0. Epub 2024 Feb 26.

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

Emese Kroon  1   2 , Janna Cousijn  3   4 , Francesca Filbey  5 , Christian Berchtold  6 , Tina M Binz  6 , Lauren Kuhns  3
Affiliations

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

Emese Kroon et al. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2024 Jun.

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.

Keywords: Cannabinoids; Cannabis; Hair analysis; Self-report.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

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