Assessing the frequency, quantity, and heavy use patterns of marijuana flower among adults with HIV in Florida

Background and AimsMeasuring the quantity of marijuana flower use is challenging and there is no standardized method of measurement, yet it is critical for cannabis researchers investigating its effects on health outcomes. We sought to identify the frequency and quantity of marijuana flower used per day, the average size of a joint, blunt or bowl, and the average amount of marijuana flower consumed per hit. We also sought to examine the distribution of heavy daily use in terms of grams of flower per day. MethodsAs part of the Marijuana Associated Planning and Long-term Effects (MAPLE) longitudinal cohort study, an underrepresented, population of persons with HIV (PWH), who were marijuana flower users (n = 253) (60.1% Age [≥]50, 54.4% Male, and 66.4% Black) completed a retrospective, calendar-based timeline follow-back (TLFB) measure. Participants reported on their frequency and quantity of marijuana flower consumed in grams, the number of hits per dose, and methods of consumption during the 30 days prior to each study visit. ResultsOf the 253 study participants, 208 (82%) used marijuana flower exclusively and 52% used daily, with a median quantity of 0.8 grams/day. The most common methods of flower consumption and their median quantity consumed were blunts (33%, 1.0 grams), joints (32%, 0.5 grams), and bowls (12%, 0.3 grams). The median amount of marijuana used per hit was 0.063 grams. The proportion who had at least one heavy use day in a month, or heavy use every day of the month was 30% and 6% when heavy use was defined as 3 grams/day, 43% and 13% for 2 grams/day, and 59% and 23% for 1 gram/day. ConclusionsOur results in this underrepresented population of PWH who were marijuana flower users are similar to others in defining the median quantity of a hit, joint and blunt in healthy, young white, male populations. However, the median size of a bowl was smaller than commonly reported. Over half of the sample population consumed greater than 1 gram/day in the previous month and almost a quarter used at least 1 gram of every day of the month.