Twitter use is more common among young adults ( Kim et al., 2013), an age group that also displays the highest rates of cannabis and other substance use ( SAMHSA, 2014). Prior research has also used a commercial social media analytics company to examine cannabis-related tweets, and found that the majority of tweets expressed pro-marijuana sentiment, and involved a greater proportion of African Americans and young individuals compared with the Twitter average ( Cavazos-Rehg et al., 2014, 2015).Ĭurrently, Twitter reports 302 million monthly active users that generate over 500 million tweets per day ( Twitter, 2015). Emerging research also suggests its utility in tracking drug abuse trends, including Twitter-based studies that focused on problem drinking ( Joshua et al., 2012), and nonmedical use of Adderall among college students ( Hanson et al., 2013). There is a growing recognition that Twitter data can be highly useful for public health surveillance ( Bartlett and Wurtz, 2013 Burke-Garcia and Scally, 2014 Jashinsky et al., 2014). Overall, there is a lack of epidemiological data on regional differences in marijuana concentrate use because current surveillance systems do not systematically track use of marijuana concentrates apart from general cannabis consumption ( SAMHSA, 2014). A recent web-based study that recruited 357 participants via craigslist found that users viewed dabs to be more dangerous than flower cannabis and reported an increase in tolerance and withdrawal symptoms as a result of using dabs ( Loflin and Earleywine, 2014). have been increasing ( Kim, 2013 Denson, 2014 Wyatt and Johnson, 2015 Healy, 2015 Associated Press, 2015), research on its use remains very limited.

Prior research has suggested that use of high potency cannabis may increase the risk of cannabis dependence ( Hall and Degenhardt, 2015), first-episode psychosis ( Di Forti et al., 2014, 2015), and contribute to the cognitive skills impairment (Ramaekers et al., 2006).Īlthough mainstream media reports about marijuana concentrate use in the U.S.

Because of the increased THC concentration and novel means of administration, use of “dabs” might lead to more severe psychological and physical problems, ( Moore et al., 2007 Hall and Degenhardt, 2009 Degenhardt et al., 2013). Most commonly, they are vaporized and inhaled via a bong, oil pipe, vaporizer or electronic cigarette ( Loflin and Earleywine, 2014 DEA, 2014b). Marijuana concentrates produced using solvent-based methods typically contain very high THC levels that can exceed 80% ( DEA, 2014b). However, in many parts of the country, there has been an increase in explosions and injuries resulting from home-based operations to produce marijuana concentrates using butane gas ( DEA 2014a). Qualified patients can also obtain marijuana concentrates at some medical marijuana dispensaries. Once converted to concentrates, such products are commonly referred to as “dabs,” “hash oil,” “shatter,” “budder,” or “earwax.” In Colorado and Washington, marijuana concentrates can be obtained legally from licensed retailers and producers. Although many methods can be used to convert flower cannabis into concentrates, the solvent-based method that uses butane to extract THC is one of the more commonly used ( DEA, 2014a, b). are associated with advanced methods to obtain high-level THC extractions ( DEA, 2014a, b). Although marijuana concentrates, or hash oil, have been available for centuries, recent increases in the U.S. Marijuana concentrates are highly potent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) preparations derived from marijuana plant material. In the context of the changing legislative landscape of cannabis use (National Conference of State Legislatures NCSL, 2015), law enforcement and popular media reports suggest a growing trend across the country of manufacture and use of marijuana concentrates ( Healy, 2015 Drug Enforcement Administration DEA, 2014a Carson, 2013 ).

Shatter dabs vaporizor