Washington – As cannabis use rises with few shared rules or routines, researchers are trying …

💚 As cannabis legalization expands across jurisdictions with varying regulatory frameworks, clinicians should recognize that the lack of standardized dosing, potency labeling, and consumption guidelines creates clinical uncertainty when patients report cannabis use. While some patients may perceive cannabis as safer than alcohol based on subjective comparisons, the pharmacokinetics, particularly of high-potency products and novel delivery methods, differ substantially from historical patterns of use and warrant individualized risk assessment. Important confounders include variable cannabinoid profiles, frequency and duration of use, age at initiation, and co-occurring substance use that complicate any cross-substance harm comparisons. Practically, clinicians should routinely inquire about cannabis type, frequency, and potency during substance use screening, counsel patients on the risks of high-THC products, and consider cannabis-related adverse effects—including hyperemesis, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, and potential psychiatric symptoms—as