Grant: Project Grant

Cannabis use is widespread in Canada and globally. In 2020, an estimated 209 million individuals worldwide, aged 15-64, had used cannabis, representing a 23% increase from 2010. One in five Canadians aged 15 or older, equating to around 6.2 million individuals, report using cannabis within the past three months. With the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada and other countries, and the availability of cannabis products with increasing levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), both the accessibility and potency of cannabis have increased. Regular consumption can result in cannabis use disorder which is associated with adverse mental and physical outcomes. In 2016, an estimated 22.1 million persons globally met diagnostic criteria for cannabis use disorder (290 cases per 100,000 people), which was the second most common drug disorder behind opioid use disorder. The rate of cannabis dependence can reach 42% among heavy users, and 9% among all users; however, most individuals with cannabis use disorder remain untreated. Further, there is currently no evidence-based guideline on best practices for managing cannabis use disorder. We propose to develop a comprehensive clinical practice guideline for the management of cannabis use disorder in adolescents and adults, incorporating current best evidence, patient values and preferences, and using rigorous knowledge synthesis methods. The intended beneficiaries of this guideline include people living with cannabis use disorder, healthcare providers, and policymakers, all of whom will benefit from access to up-to-date recommendations for the management of cannabis use disorder that explicitly considers the comparative benefits and harms of available interventions.