“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Weed”: How Consumers in Four Different Policy Settings Define the Quality of Illicit Cannabis

Abstract

With proliferating efforts to regulate the quality of cannabis on legalized markets, and recent discussions about drug quality assessment by darknet buyers, it seems timely to explore definitions of the quality of cannabis among consumers. An inductive analysis of in-depth interviews with people who had used cannabis in the past 12 months was conducted, which focused on the respondents’ subjective definitions and assessments of the quality of cannabis. The data are drawn from convenience samples in four localities (Florida [United States], Czechia, Spain, and New South Wales [Australia]) where cannabis was illegal or decriminalized. The findings suggest that the respondents across all four localities used a range of visual and sensory indicators to assess the quality of cannabis. For many respondents, these were independent indicators of the quality of cannabis suggesting that cannabis was not merely an “experience” good. For others, visual and sensory assessments were used as indirect indicators of quality in that they represented the effect of the cannabis. The desired effect was more complex than simple potency (strength) and several respondents preferred mild and not-sedating cannabis. Across the four localities, the respondents also included “proxy” indicators of the safety of cannabis in their definitions of quality. In other words, high-quality cannabis was defined as not causing excessive intoxication or physical harm. Altogether, cannabis was a specific “credence” good when its quality was seen as a result of cultivation techniques, production location, or producers’ (profit) motivations - depending on the locality. These findings suggest that cannabis policies that regulate the cultivation process can be relevant to people who use cannabis. Given that consumers take the safety of cannabis into consideration when assessing its quality, their involvement in the development of quality standards is warranted. Consumer-led self-regulation should also be considered in policies that seek to regulate cannabis supply.

New Kinds of [Hash]tags

“…In the face of ignorance and misinformation, consumer-led self-regulation has become an important force in shaping the growing market for semi-synthetic cannabinoids. This dynamic relationship between consumer and manufacturer is reified through the digital platforms that connect the multiplicity of contexts involved in consumption and production of cannabis highs (Belackova 2020). The identification of harms associated with semi-synthetic cannabinoid use both validates the interdisciplinary model utilized by the researchers which implicates the role of green chemists in the future of this substance's evolution (Ellis et al 2019).…”

Nutrition and addiction - are they linked in de-addictive process?

“…According to US statistics from scientific studies, marijuana users also ingested added salt, a reduced amount of fruits and higher quantity of pork, cheese, and salty snacks. According to BMI and an examination of significant blood components, marijuana users in general did not exhibit poor nutritional condition, according to some study's findings (Belackova, 2020;Marr, Magazine).…”

How Can Researchers Support Cannabis Sativa L. Home Growers? Investigating Homegrown C. Sativa Horticulture and Defining Best Practices

“…Despite many home growers not getting their plants officially chemically tested, many citizens report their C. sativa is stronger than commercially available C. sativa (Potter et al, 2015;Sznitman et al, 2019;Decorte, 2010a;Wilkins et al, 2018). Home growers may use alternative methods of gauging the chemical quality of their plant like relying on source genetics, looks, aroma, or feelings during consumption (Belackova, 2020); however, these methods are not always precise nor reliable (Decorte, 2015;Sznitman et al, 2019;van der Pol et al, 2013). As a result, citizens must put their faith in advertised chemotypes of plants and hope their cultivation practices will allow them to achieve this cannabinoid potency.…”

“…There is little published information from credible sources on what cultivars and chemotypes are cultivated among home growers. Many assume that recreational C. sativa users seek THC dominant cultivars for best euphoric effects and medicinal users seek CBD dominant cultivars for best therapeutic effects (Singh, 2019;Travvo, 2015;Zhu et al, 2020;Sznitman et al, 2019), studies have shown that users of all kinds use C. sativa of various chemotypes (Boehnke et al, 2019;Zeyl, Sawyer, and Wightman, 2020;Belackova, 2020). In Israel, small-scale medical C. sativa growers have even been found to prefer cultivating THC-dominant C. sativa and did so at a higher rate than recreational users (Sznitman et al, 2019).…”