Cannabis use does not hinder the ability to quit tobacco smoking, a recent study found. Treatment-seeking tobacco smokers (n=1,256) were enrolled in an intent-to-treat study, of which 220 were current cannabis users. Researchers randomly assigned individuals to 12 weeks of placebo (placebo pill plus placebo patch), nicotine patch (active patch plus placebo pill), or partial nicotine agonist (active pill plus placebo patch), plus behavioral counseling. The primary endpoint was biochemically verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence at the end of treatment. They found:

• Controlling for rate of nicotine metabolism, treatment arm, age, sex, alcohol, and level of nicotine dependence, cannabis users were as successful at achieving biochemically verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence compared to tobacco-only smokers.

• Future tobacco cessation studies should employ prospective, longitudinal designs investigating cannabis co-use over time and at different severity levels.

Citation: Rabin RA, Ashare RL, Schnoll RA, et al. Does cannabis use moderate smoking cessation outcomes in treatment-seeking tobacco smokers? Analyses from a large multi-center trial. [Published online ahead of print May 17, 2016]. Am J Addict. doi:10.1111/ajad.12382.