Exploring Butane Hash Oil Use: A Research Note

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Abstract

The practice of “dabbing” has seen an apparent upswing in popularity in recent months within American drug subcultures. “Dabbing” refers to the use of butane-extracted marijuana products that offer users much higher tetrahydrocannabinol content than flower cannabis through a single dosage process. Though considerably more potent than most marijuana strains in their traditional form, these butane hash oil products and the practice of dabbing are underexplored in the empirical literature, especially in prohibition states. A mixed-methods evaluation of a federally funded treatment program for drug-involved offenders identified a small sample (n = 6) of butane hash oil users and generated focus group interview data on the nature of butane hash oil, the practice of dabbing, and its effects. Findings inform discussion of additional research needed on butane hash oil and its implications for the ongoing marijuana legalization debate, including the diversity of users, routes of administration, and differences between retail/medical and prohibition states.

Publication Title

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs

Volume

48

Issue

1

First Page

44

Last Page

49

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1080/02791072.2015.1118173

PubMed ID

26800050

ISSN

02791072

E-ISSN

21599777

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