Flavored Cannabis Listings Raise Youth-Appeal Questions, but the Study Did Not Measure Added Flavoring

A large analysis of cannabis listings on Weedmaps found that 42% of consumable products included at least one flavor descriptor. The findings highlight the variety of products and marketing language in the U.S. cannabis marketplace—but they do not show that 42% of products contained added flavoring or that flavored listings increase youth cannabis use.

Published in 2024 in JAMA Network Open, the study examined cannabis-derived product listings collected from Weedmaps between September 1 and November 30, 2023. Researchers initially identified 573,854 listings across the United States. After removing 72,842 nonconsumable items, such as accessories and equipment, they analyzed 501,012 products.

The research team used automated data collection to gather listing information and then manually coded product descriptions. The analysis classified products by route of administration, product type, cannabinoid composition and flavor characteristics. The goal was to create a framework for tracking the rapidly changing cannabis market, rather than to estimate how many products consumers purchased or used.

Among the analyzed listings, 210,575—42.03%—contained at least one flavor description. Researchers identified 260 distinct flavor types. Lemon, cake and strawberry were the three most common individual descriptors. Fruit flavors accounted for the largest flavor class, followed by confectionery descriptions such as bakery, chocolate and ice cream. Other listings referenced herbs, spices, vegetables, nuts, coffee, tea and alcohol.

The product marketplace was also highly varied. Multisystem products, including plants and concentrates, represented 41.04% of listings. Respiratory products, such as cartridges, vapes, pre-rolls and joints, accounted for 36.98%, while digestive products, including edibles and beverages, made up 19.75%. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as delta-9 THC, was the primary cannabinoid identified in 63.3% of listings with available cannabinoid information.

The word “flavored” requires careful interpretation. In this study, a product could be classified as having a flavor when its description included a sensory or taste-related term. That could include a gummy marketed as strawberry, but it could also include cannabis flower described as lemony, citrusy or herbaceous. Such language does not necessarily mean that manufacturers added artificial flavoring to the product.

This distinction limits what the study can say about flavored cannabis products. The researchers analyzed online descriptions, not laboratory samples, so the data cannot establish whether a listed flavor came from an additive, the plant’s naturally occurring compounds, a strain name or a tasting note. The analysis also did not determine whether the descriptions were accurate, how often the products sold or who ultimately bought them.

Even with those limitations, the authors said the range of product forms and appealing descriptors warrants closer monitoring. Previous research has found that flavored cannabis use is common among adolescent users, including in a California study of adolescents. Research on other products, particularly flavored nicotine products, has also raised concerns that sweet and fruit-oriented characteristics can make addictive products more attractive to young people.

The study did not demonstrate that cannabis flavor descriptions cause adolescents to begin using cannabis. Rather, it identified features that may deserve attention from regulators and public-health researchers. The authors noted that Weedmaps did not actively require age verification on its main landing page during the study period, although age restrictions could be applied on individual retailer pages. That observation concerns potential exposure to online marketing, not proof that minors successfully purchased cannabis through the platform.

The researchers called for clearer product information and continued market surveillance as cannabis policies evolve. Better labeling could help distinguish added flavoring from naturally occurring aromas and marketing descriptions, while more consistent data collection could help regulators compare products across states.

National survey data provide important context but cannot resolve the questions raised by this marketplace analysis. The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 6.0% of adolescents ages 12 to 17 used marijuana in the past month. That type of survey measures reported use, whereas the Weedmaps study measured how products were described and presented online.

Overall, the JAMA Network Open study offers a detailed snapshot of cannabis product availability during the fall of 2023. Its most important contribution is documenting the scale and diversity of the online marketplace. Whether particular flavors or product formats influence initiation, frequency of use or health outcomes—especially among adolescents—will require separate studies involving consumers, purchasing data and laboratory verification of product contents.