Consumers' Perceptions of Edible Marijuana Products for Recreational Use: Likes, Dislikes, and Reasons for Use

ABSTRACT

Background: Edible marijuana products have become extremely popular in states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Objectives: The goal of this research was to provide a better understanding of consumer perceptions of edible marijuana products, including why they prefer edibles relative to other forms of marijuana (e.g., smoking) and their concerns regarding the consumption of edibles. Methods: We conducted eight focus groups (four groups in Denver, Colorado, and four groups in Seattle, Washington) in February 2016 with 62 adult consumers of edibles. Focus group transcripts were coded in QSR NVivo 10.0 qualitative analysis software, and coding reports identified trends across participants. Results: Most participants preferred edibles to smoking marijuana because there is no smell from smoke and no secondhand smoke. Other reasons participants like edibles included convenience, discreetness, longer-lasting highs, less intense highs, and edibles' ability to aid in relaxation and reduce anxiety more so than smoking marijuana. Concerns and dislikes about edibles included delayed effects, unexpected highs, the unpredictability of the high, and inconsistency of distribution of marijuana in the product. No participants in either location mentioned harmful health effects from consuming edibles as a concern. Conclusions/Importance: The present study was qualitative in nature and provides a good starting point for further research to quantify through surveys how consumers understand and use edibles. Such information will help guide policy makers and regulators as they establish regulations for edibles. Also, such research can help inform educational campaigns on proper use of edibles for recreational purposes.

KEYWORDS:

• Edibles
• marijuana
• recreational
• marijuana-infused products
• cannabis
• perceptions
• focus group

Glossary

• Edibles: food products infused with cannabis or marijuana.

• Dabs: concentrated doses of cannabis that are made by extracting THC and other cannabinoids using a solvent like butane or carbon dioxide, resulting in sticky oils also commonly referred to as wax, shatter, budder, and butane hash oil.

• Dose titration: determination of appropriate dose to achieve the desired level of “high.”

• THC or tetrahydrocannabinol: the chemical responsible for most of marijuana's psychological effects.

• Weed tincture: a liquid that has been infused with cannabis.

Acknowledgments

We thank the study participants and the focus group facilities we worked with in Denver and Seattle. The study was funded with internal funding from RTI International. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the funding source and host institution.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.