The number of people consuming cannabis-based products has skyrocketed with the legalization of recreational cannabis. Unfortunately, this has led to intoxication due to a misinformed selection of doses/servings of products available on the market.
On top of that, having the option of picking from an array of cannabis administrations (i.e., dried herbs, edibles, oils, concentrates, etc.) increases confusion about the desired potency of the products consumed by the general population.
As a result, the standardization of units for cannabis products has been relentlessly discussed, given the possible negative psychotic effects that experienced and first-time users might suffer due to misinformed consumption.
Therefore, it is crucial to examine the current labels used for cannabis products and seek ways to optimize them to generate comprehensive labels for the general public.
What does the latest research in the UK tell us?
A study led by the University of Bath reviewed the current health guidelines imposed in countries where cannabis is recreationally legal and proposed a standard THC unit for various cannabis-based products. Herewith, they concluded that THC should be the compound used as a unit since it is the primary active pharmacological constituent found in cannabis.
Additionally, the researchers stated that mg of THC was the most accurate way to represent the amount of THC per product. The researchers proposed that 5 mg of THC should equal 1 unit of THC for all cannabis products and methods of administration.
They elaborate that such an amount is based on past studies suggesting that 8 mg of vaporized THC was enough to generate robust psychoactive effects in daily Cannabis users.
Thus, decreasing the amount used would ensure that inexperienced users avoid unwanted adverse effects. Noteworthy, it is suggested that the amount of CBD in mg should also be added to cannabis products due to the health benefits sought by a significant percentage of the general public.
What does the latest research in Canada tell us?
On the other hand, a study led by the University of Waterloo in Canada performed an online cross-sectional survey to find the most comprehensive labeling to add to cannabis-based products (dried flowers and edibles). Herein, 870 Canadian young adults (16–30 years old) were subject to two experiments.
In experiment 1, the subjects showed a better judgment on the recommended serving of an edible when the label displayed the number of servings/doses per package in comparison with labels displaying the amount of THC in mg (milligrams) (Fig. 1).
Separately, in experiment 2, the subjects showed a better judgment on the potency of the cannabis product when the label displayed the potency in a “traffic light” system (green meaning low potency and red meaning high potency) in comparison with labels displaying the percentage of THC or the amount of THC in mg (Fig. 2).
What Should We Expect in The Next Few Years?
Within the challenges of defining a standard unit for cannabis products, there is a variability that comes with the methods of administration available (oral, topical, sublingual, inhaled, etc.). For instance, dried herbs can be administered through different types of inhalation devices, including joints, bongs, pipes, vaporizers, etc.
Each of these administration methods will result in different amounts of cannabinoids inhaled and in distinctive cannabinoid bioavailability depending on each user.
Thus, it is imperative to create a comprehensive labeling system to include Cannabis products. Previous food and tobacco products have shown that the majority of the general public is uncertain of the content of the product they purchased when the labels display them as a quantitative figure. Therefore, alternatives such as a “traffic light” system or doses per package need to be shown on the labels of Cannabis products to avoid intoxications.
Freeman, T. P., & Lorenzetti, V. (2020). ‘Standard THC units’: a proposal to standardize dose across all cannabis products and methods of administration. Addiction, 115(7), 1207–1216. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.14842
Leos-Toro, C., Fong, G. T., Meyer, S. B., & Hammond, D. (2020). Cannabis labelling and consumer understanding of THC levels and serving sizes. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107843
