The impact of THC on people in recovery

In Montana, on January 1, 2022, cannabis became legal for recreational use. This policy has been adopted in several other states as well. The impact of THC on recovery has not been widely researched and, therefore, not fully understood. Addiction clinics are responsible for supporting individuals through their recovery journey, and probation offices are meant to uphold those on probation to their regulations. Therefore, professionals working in these agencies may have insight into how THC impacts recovery. In 2024, I quantitatively surveyed professionals (n=13) working in addiction clinics or probation and parole offices in Helena, MT, on their perspectives of the impact of THC use on recovery and whether there is a “therapeutic level” of THC use. I then analyzed these results using descriptive statistics. 66.67% of clinicians agreed or strongly agreed that THC could lead to relapse, and 22.22% of clinicians strongly disagreed. Half of the probation and parole officers disagreed that THC could lead to relapse, and the other half were neutral. Further examination showed how prevalent clients with comorbid SUD were for both clinicians and Probation officers. We do not yet know the implications of substance use disorders. We know that THC is used medically, however, we do not know enough about how this impacts those in recovery. This matters because, as social workers, we have a service duty to address social problems. THC is recreational, and dispensaries are prominent in communities. The more education around how THC affects recovery, people supporting those in recovery can give better informed care.