User characteristics and effect profile of Butane Hash Oil: An extremely high-potency cannabis concentrate

- Mental health problems and other illicit drug use are associated with Butane Hash Oil (BHO) use.
- BHO users were more likely to obtain their cannabis through prescription.
- BHO is reported to have stronger negative effects than herbal cannabis.

BackgroundRecent reports suggest an increase in use of extremely potent cannabis concentrates such as Butane Hash Oil (BHO) in some developed countries. The aims of this study were to examine the characteristics of BHO users and the effect profiles of BHO.DesignAnonymous online survey in over 20 countries in 2014 and 2015. Participants aged 18 years or older were recruited through onward promotion and online social networks. The overall sample size was 181,870. In this sample, 46% (N = 83,867) reported using some form of cannabis in the past year, and 3% reported BHO use (n = 5922).MeasurementsParticipants reported their use of 7 types of cannabis in the past 12 months, the source of their cannabis, reasons for use, use of other illegal substances, and lifetime diagnosis for depression, anxiety and psychosis. Participants were asked to rate subjective effects of BHO and high potency herbal cannabis.FindingsParticipants who reported a lifetime diagnosis of depression (OR = 1.15, p = 0.003), anxiety (OR = 1.72, p < 0.001), and a larger number of substance use (OR = 1.29, p < 0.001) were more likely to use BHO than only using high potency herbal cannabis. BHO users also reported stronger negative effects and less positive effects when using BHO than high potency herbal cannabis (p < 0.001)ConclusionMental health problems and other illicit drug use were associated with use of BHO. BHO was reported to have stronger negative and weaker positive effects than high potency herbal cannabis.