"It Takes Longer, but When It Hits You It Hits You!": Videos About Marijuana Edibles on YouTube. (12th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Krauss, Melissa J.; Sowles, Shaina J.; Stelzer-Monahan, Haley E.; Bierut, Tatiana; Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A.
• Is Part Of: Substance use & misuse. Volume 52:Number 6(2017)
• Page Start: 709
• Page End: 716
• Publication Date: 2017-05-12
• Subjects: Marijuana -- edibles -- social media -- content analysis -- YouTube; Narcotic habit -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Behavior, Addictive -- Periodicals; Sustance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2016.1253749
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1082-6084

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : Interest in marijuana edibles has increased as perceptions of harm from marijuana have decreased. Media and peer influences impact youth substance use, and YouTube is the most popular video-sharing website. No studies have examined the content and accessibility of YouTube videos related to marijuana edibles. Objectives : To describe the messages conveyed to viewers in YouTube videos about edibles and determine their accessibility to youth. Methods : On June 12, 2015, we searched YouTube for videos about marijuana/cannabis/weed edibles. A total of 51 videos were coded for presence of an age restriction, purpose(s) of the videos, consumption of edibles during the video, effects, and safety concerns. Results : Total views across all 51 videos were >9 million. Only 14% (7/51) were restricted to viewers over the age of 18 years. Over half (27/51, 53%) were informative videos, most (20/27, 74%) teaching how to make edibles, and 37% (19/51) were entertaining videos. Someone consumed an edible in 31% (16/51) of the videos, and the type of high was mentioned in 51% (26/51) of the videos, including delayed (18/26, 69%) or intense high (13/26, 50%). Fifty-five percent (28/51) mentioned delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol potency or dosage. Only 10 of these (36%) presented this information specifically as a warning to prevent adverse effects. Conclusions / Importance : Edibles-related videos are easily found on YouTube, often instructing how to bake your own edibles and lacking information needed for safe consumption, and most are not age-restricted. Videos showing how to make edibles or presenting edibles use in an entertaining way that could influence youth to initiate use.