Association of Cannabinoid Specialists (ACS) proposes that the term “adult-use” be changed to “non-medical use” in all communication, laws, and regulation.  The term “adult-use” is inaccurate, stigmatizing, and harmful to the community whereas “non-medical use” is accurate, supportive, and will decrease confusion among consumers.

Language has power and can lead to harm via the development of institutionalized attitudes and often unintended consequences.  

For example, while it may be debated in certain circles, using the word “cannabis” instead of “marijuana” can’t be faulted.  Cannabis is the Latin genus of the plant species and does not have a history of being used to stigmatize either the plant users or particular racial/ethnic groups. Marijuana, on the other hand, has a long history in the United States of being used to create fear in the populace and ostracism of groups associated with its use. 

Language being used to differentiate between medical-use of cannabis and other uses has similarly strayed into damaging territory.  

Originally, use of cannabis for purposes of enjoyment or other non-medical uses was termed “recreational”.  While this term is accurate, since any use for treatment of illness should be viewed as medical, leaving the only other reason for use being enjoyment, people have expressed the concern that “recreational” stigmatizes or demeans the importance of such use.  

As a result, the term “adult-use” has come into common language.  However, adult-use is not an accurate term and has caused harm to patient care.  Adult-use was developed, it is argued, to differentiate use by an adult from use by a minor, in the same way that alcohol use by an adult is permitted but for a child it is not.  However, alcohol does not have any current medical uses and so the idea of adult-use may be valid for alcohol but not for cannabis.  

There are two complications that arise from the term adult-use in the context of cannabis.  First, oddly the implication is that medical users are not adults.  This odd implication and stigmatization makes patients feel uncomfortable, creating yet another barrier to patients seeking appropriate medical care. 

The second, and more insidious issue, is that adult-use implies that adults could/should use cannabis for any purpose, including medical, without guidance.  It is an attempt to bundle medical-use under the umbrella of adult-use and encourage people with illness (i.e. patients) to self-medicate without the guidance of medical professionals.  This is a strategic windfall for the cannabis industry that would generally prefer to sell copious amounts of cannabis without the interference of health professionals who guide patients into lower-use, healthy-use regimens. 

In the interests of destigmatizing use, accuracy of language is crucial.  Adult-use buries industry-approved, public health harming self-medication in a seemingly innocuous title.  The harm to patients and to the public health, however, is real.  Hence our recommendation is to stop using adult-use as the current term.  Given that medical-use can be defined as using cannabis to treat conditions, illness, disease, or symptoms, the reasons for use that are not included in medical-use should be termed non-medical-use.