🛡️ Safety & Best Practices

Who Should Avoid

  • Age < 25: 4-7x higher CUD risk; 8-point IQ decline in adolescent-onset users (Dunedin Study)
  • Pregnancy/lactation: No medical indication; associated with preterm birth, low birth weight (ACOG 2025)
  • Psychosis history: Daily high-potency use OR 5.4 for psychotic disorders
  • Cardiovascular disease: 25% higher heart attack risk, 42% higher stroke risk in daily users (JAHA 2024)

Product Selection & Dosing

  • Choose low-THC: <10% THC with balanced CBD:THC ratios (modern products average 15-25% vs 3-4% in 1970s)
  • Prefer Δ9-THC: Avoid novel analogs (THCP, HHC-O, HHCP-O) with higher CB1 efficacy and PK uncertainty
  • Never synthetic cannabinoids: 5-80x more potent, 26.8% fatality rate
  • Edibles: 2.5mg THC max initial dose; wait 2+ hours before redosing (onset 30-120min, duration 4-12h)
  • Inhalation: 1-2 puffs; onset 2-10min; duration 2-4h

Consumption Methods

  • Safest: Topicals (no systemic effects), oral oils/tinctures, dry herb vaporization (95% less combustion)
  • Avoid: Smoking (highest respiratory harm), illicit THC cartridges (EVALI risk), concentrates/dabs (60-95% THC)
  • Use regulated products: Lab-tested from licensed sources (contamination risk in unregulated markets)

Use Frequency

  • Low-risk: Occasional use (weekly or less)
  • High-risk: Daily use (25-50% develop CUD, 2-3x increased risk)
  • Tolerance breaks: Minimum 2 weeks (CB1 recovery begins), 4+ weeks for heavy users
  • Track use: CUDIT-R score ≥8 indicates hazardous use
  • Disclose use to healthcare providers (drug interactions with warfarin, tacrolimus, CNS depressants)

📊 Financial Calculator

Annual Cost

$2,400

10-Year Cost

$24,000

Annual Cost Comparison

Spending vs. S&P 500 Investment

Red line: Money spent on cannabis. Green line: Potential S&P 500 value if invested instead (10% annual return)

Cost Note: Cost calculations are based on user-provided prices. Actual costs may vary by location, quality, and legal status.

This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only. Consult healthcare professionals for personalized health advice.

🔍 Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test (CUDIT-R)

The Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R) is an 8-item validated screening tool for problematic cannabis use over the past 6 months. Scores range from 0-32.

Scoring: Score ≥8 indicates hazardous use. Score ≥12 suggests possible cannabis use disorder warranting further assessment.

1. How often do you use cannabis?

2. How many hours were you 'stoned' or 'high' on a typical day when you had been using cannabis?

3. How often during the past 6 months did you find that you were not able to stop using cannabis once you had started?

4. How often during the past 6 months did you fail to do what was normally expected of you because of using cannabis?

5. How often in the past 6 months have you devoted a great deal of your time to getting, using, or recovering from cannabis?

6. How often in the past 6 months have you had a problem with your memory or concentration after using cannabis?

7. How often in the past 6 months have you used cannabis in a situation where it was physically hazardous (e.g., driving, operating machinery)?

8. Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your cannabis use?

Please answer all 8 questions

🆘 Emergency Help & Support

Emergency Contacts

Detecting your location for relevant helplines...

Acute Intoxication Management

  • Remain calm; effects are time-limited
  • Hydration and controlled breathing
  • Terpene intervention: β-caryophyllene (black pepper)
  • Seek medical attention for respiratory distress or chest pain

Note: Peak effects typically resolve within 2-4 hours. No fatal overdoses documented.