Cannabis: What is the profile of adults at low risk of dependence?

The researchers identified marked differences between groups. "Lower-risk cannabis users resemble non-users more than higher-risk users," explains Guillaume Dubé. "The latter are more often male, have lower levels of education, and present more mental health problems, particularly anxiety."

Jean-Sébastien Fallu, professor at the Université de Montréal School of Psychoeducation and co-author of the study, emphasizes the importance of these findings: “This research supports a change in attitude and perspective: rather than focusing almost exclusively on at-risk consumption profiles or those associated with problems, let's turn our attention to an aspect too often unconsidered, even obscured—that is, non-problematic cannabis use.”

Unsurprisingly, frequency of use remains the factor most strongly associated with high CUD risk. However, the study reveals that other risk factors could play an important role, such as simultaneous cannabis and tobacco use and smoking in general, as well as anxiety symptoms. The study also suggests that cannabis use in a social context, rather than alone, is associated with a lower risk of CUD.

After taking various factors into account in their analysis, the research team also highlighted that women and people who simultaneously use cannabis and alcohol were more likely to have lower-risk use.

"We also observed that people who used alcohol and cannabis simultaneously had a lower risk of CUD than those who used cannabis without alcohol. This may seem surprising, but we hypothesized that when these two substances are used together, it's in a social context, which is the true beneficial factor. This remains to be demonstrated, however," explains Guillaume Dubé.

Conversely, tobacco and cannabis use is an important risk factor that differentiates higher-risk users from lower-risk users.

Marie-Pierre Sylvestre emphasizes the practical implications: "Our results underscore the importance of harm reduction strategies and evidence-based education for cannabis-related policies."

The team recommends that public health provide factual information about the potential effects of cannabis, both positive and negative.

"Like alcohol, cannabis has been consumed since the dawn of humanity. Psychoactive substance use carries risks, regardless of the substance. For adults who wish to use cannabis, there are practices to maximize its benefits and reduce these risks," concludes Guillaume Dubé.