Study demonstrates potential predictive relationship between expected sensitivity to cannabis prices and increased future consumption

A study by University of Kansas addiction researchers has shown that young adults’ self-reported current cannabis use and anticipated future expenditure on cannabis can accurately predict their future use patterns, with cost playing a smaller role in high demand users. 

The study, published Oct. 23 in the journal Cannabis, asked participants to consider how much cannabis they would purchase at various price points, starting at free and going up in increments to well beyond the legal market value.   

Individuals who reported they would purchase or use a lot when cannabis is priced low and who said they would buy cannabis at higher prices were much more likely to use cannabis frequently three months later. The sample of young adults were relatively good at projecting their willingness to pay for cannabis in the future, which was largely consistent with their current willingness to pay for cannabis. 

Though the study should be replicated to strengthen its conclusions, senior author Richard Yi, director of the Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment, said, the study demonstrated stability in cannabis demand across the three months. 

However, he added, “Some evidence suggests that those who believe that they will be highly sensitive to the price and consequences of cannabis use might have overly optimistic perspectives about their cannabis use and may have increased risk for escalation of use.” 

The study has implications for better understanding of cannabis use, such as targeted interventions that consider these factors, including lowering the perceived rewards of cannabis use or highlighting that heavier use may create reduced sensitivity to the price of cannabis use and the consequences of misuse.