id	author	title	date	pages	extension	mime	words	sentence	flesch	summary	cache	txt
cannabis-169	Pakdaman, Sheila; Weck, Jennifer; Longtin , Melinda; Clapp, John	What was the vibe you were going for?” SAM Behaviors and Socialization During the COVID-19 Pandemic, a Qualitative Approach	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 6 No. 3 (2023): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 1	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/169/121	Introduction: Marijuana use is at historic highs amongst college-aged adults, who are more likely to engage in simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use (SAM) than other age cohorts. For college students, the COVID-19 pandemic is a unique transitory phenomenon that led to isolation, as well as changes in socialization, academic environments, and substance use. This exploratory qualitative study aims to understand SAM socialization and motivation behaviors among college students. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews (N=32) were conducted across the United States from January 2021-April 2021via Zoom. Interviews were then transcribed, then a thematic analysis was conducted in Atlas.ti. Results: The sample was primarily college juniors (mage=21). Since the pandemic, half of the participants increased SAM, whereas the other half decreased SAM. SAM was reported in different categories including primarily with friends, but, much less with partners and with roommates. More than half of the sample indicated that they used SAM alone. Motivations to engage in SAM included relaxing, socializing, offsetting stressors specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, and relieving general stress, anxiety and boredom. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted college students’ substance use in interesting ways. Understanding the behaviors of SAM in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial due to the legalization of marijuana in many states. This understanding has significant implications for prevention strategies and potential policy interventions. Our study yielded findings regarding the impact of socialization on SAM. We discovered that not only does socialization affect SAM, but the specific contexts and motivations behind these behaviors also play a crucial role, which adds to our developing understanding of SAM behavior.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/16	Stevens, Angela K.; Blanchard, Brittany E.; Littlefield, Andrew K.	Examining Approval and Social Norms as Proximal Predictors of the Impulsivity-Cannabis Use Relation	2018-01-30	Cannabis; Vol. 1 No. 1 (2018): Cannabis; 44-60	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/16/6	Cannabis is a commonly used substance among college students and is associated with a host of negative consequences. Psychosocial variables (e.g., social norms, attitudes, and impulsivity) may explain individual differences regarding the increased cannabis use in recent years. Attitudes, social norms, and broadband impulsivity have demonstrated consistent, independent relations with increased cannabis use; however, relations among approval and social norms, narrowband impulsivity, and cannabis use remain elusive. The current study (N = 718) examined approval (i.e., approval of peer cannabis use) and social norms as proximal predictors of impulsivity-cannabis use relations among college students across models of varying multivariate complexity. Results from simpler multivariate models indicated that indirect effects of impulsivity-like facets, as assessed by the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, were statistically significant for all models via approval, descriptive norms, and injunctive norms. In general, individuals higher in impulsivity-like facets reported more positive attitudes or more perceived use or approval by friends, which, in turn, was associated with more cannabis use. Differential relations emerged for the complex multivariate mediation model, such that approval exhibited the most consistent unique mediation effect. Multi-group analyses by gender revealed an indirect effect of sensation seeking via descriptive norms stronger for males than females. Consistent with the alcohol literature, this research highlights the importance of examining approval and social norms as proximal predictors of cannabis use, particularly as it is relevant for developing efficacious clinical interventions to reduce cannabis use by employing personalized normative feedback. DOI: 10.26828/cannabis.2018.01.005 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/171	Waddell, Jack; McDonald, Abigail; Shah, Rishika; Corbin, William	Daily Relations Among Alcohol and Cannabis Co-Use, Simultaneous Use, and Negative Consequences: A Day-Level Latent Profile Analysis	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 6 No. 3 (2023): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 1	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/171/98	Objective: Concurrent and simultaneous cannabis and alcohol co-use confers risk for daily negative alcohol consequences. However, studies often treat co-use as a dichotomy, precluding examination of higher- and lower-risk co-use days. Additionally, little is known about specific alcohol consequences associated with daily co-use. Therefore, the current study 1) differentiated days based upon alcohol consumption, co-use, and simultaneous use, and 2) tested whether certain day-level use patterns conferred risk for daily alcohol consequences. Methods: College student co-users (N=489) completed an online Timeline Followback, reporting daily alcohol consumption, negative alcohol consequences, concurrent cannabis and alcohol co-use, and simultaneous co-use (SAM) on drinking days over the past month. Day-Level Latent Profile Analysis differentiated days based upon drinking quantity, co-use, and simultaneous use, and tested whether patterns of use conferred risk for overall and specific negative alcohol consequences. Results: Four day-level profiles emerged, including moderate consumption of alcohol-only days (57.5%), moderate consumption SAM use days (29.1%), higher consumption alcohol-only days (7.4%), and higher consumption SAM use days (6%). Higher consumption SAM use days were associated with more negative alcohol consequences than all other days; however, higher consumption SAM use days differed from higher consumption alcohol-only days in acute dependence symptoms. Higher consumption alcohol-only days were associated with more negative alcohol consequences than moderate consumption SAM days, particularly those that were action-oriented (i.e., dependence symptoms, blackout drinking, impaired control, risky behavior, social/interpersonal consequences). Conclusions: Findings suggest that there are in fact lower-risk co-use days, and that links with unique negative alcohol consequences depend on levels of alcohol consumption and co-use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/172	Conner, Bradley T; Bravo, Adrian; Win, Naomi ; Rahm-Knigge, Ryan 	Examination of Rumination’s Mediating Role in the Relation Between Distal Personality Predictors, Cannabis Coping Motives, and Negative Cannabis-Related Consequences	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 2; 82-98	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/172/147	Objective: Perseverative cognitive processes, such as rumination, may indirectly influence effects of personality traits on cannabis use and related problems. Understanding relations among personality, rumination, and cannabis use motives may lead to better understanding of problematic cannabis use. The present study examined personality traits’ influence on negative cannabis-related consequences via rumination and cannabis use coping motives. Methods: We tested a sequential path model across two independent samples such that the model was tested in one sample and replicated in the second sample. Participants were U.S. undergraduate students from multiple universities who reported using cannabis at least once in the prior thirty days. Results: Results partially supported hypotheses such negative urgency and distress tolerance were indirectly related to negative cannabis-related consequences via rumination and coping motives. Specifically, higher negative urgency and lower distress tolerance were related to higher rumination. Higher rumination was related to higher coping motives; which in turn was related to more negative cannabis-related consequences. Results indicate that rumination is a risk factor belying associations between personality and cannabis use to cope and negative consequences of use. Conclusions: Implementing techniques that attenuate rumination for individuals high in negative urgency or low in distress tolerance may reduce or prevent problematic cannabis and unintended outcomes.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/173	Langwerden, Robbert; Morris, Staci ; Fernandez, Sofia; Contreras-Pérez, María ; Hospital, Michelle; Wagner, Eric	Preliminary Effects of a Guided Self-Change Intervention on Perceived Risk and Self-Efficacy in University Students Engaging in Cannabis or Alcohol Misuse	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 6 No. 3 (2023): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 1	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/173/113	Guided Self-Change (GSC) is a Motivational Interviewing (MI)-based early intervention program, infused with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), for individuals with substance use problems. In this study, we implemented a 4-session GSC program with the innovative addition of mindfulness-based techniques at a minority-serving institution to reduce substance use and negative consequences among self-referred university students. We investigated processes that may be associated with behavior change, including perceived risk of use and self-efficacy ratings among university students who reported their primary substance of choice was cannabis (n = 18) or alcohol (n = 18). The sample of 36 participants (Mage = 24.4, SDage = 5, range  18-37) mostly identified as female (58.3%), then male (41.7%); 52.8% identified as Hispanic/Latine, 22.2% as Black or African American, and 19.5% as a sexual minority. Among cannabis primary using students, results indicated that the perceived risk of weekly cannabis use, confidence to change, and readiness to change showed statistically significant increases from pre- to post-assessment. Among alcohol primary using students, confidence to change and readiness to change showed statistically significant increases from pre- to post-assessments. All results yielded large effect sizes, which may be inflated due to the small sample size. Findings suggest that over the course of participation in a brief, 4-session targeted GSC program, there were significant increases in perceived risk and self-efficacy among minority university students who engage in primary cannabis or primary alcohol use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/177	Erica Doering; Elizabeth Weybright; Alana Anderson; Kyle Murphy; Linda Caldwell	Associations Between Trait Boredom and Frequency of Cannabis, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use in College Students	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 6 No. 3 (2023): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 1	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/177/122	Objective: Boredom is a common emotion associated with substance use in college students – a group already at risk for substance misuse. The purpose of this study is to understand how two types of trait boredom (susceptibility and proneness) in college students are associated with frequency of cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco use. Method: Data were collected from an online survey completed by a sample of undergraduate students (N = 414, Mage = 19.55, 84.5% female; 64.3% White) enrolled at a large public university in the northwest. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between trait boredom and frequency of cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco use after controlling for age, sex, and race. Results: Boredom susceptibility was a significant predictor of annual, monthly, and weekly cannabis and alcohol use, but only annual and monthly tobacco use. Boredom proneness was only a significant predictor for monthly alcohol use. Conclusions: Findings were generally consistent across types of substances and frequency of use for boredom susceptibility, indicating students higher in susceptibility, rather than proneness, are a subgroup to target prevention interventions to alleviate boredom and subsequent maladaptive coping mechanisms.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/179	Muzumdar, Neel; Jackson, Kristina; Buckman, Jennifer; Spaeth, Andrea; Sokolovsky, Alexander; Pawlak, Anthony; White, Helene	Dose-dependent Relationships of Same-day and Typical Substance Use to Sleep Duration in College Cannabis and Alcohol Users: A Multilevel Modeling Approach Using Daily Diary Data	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 6 No. 3 (2023): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 1	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/179/111	This study characterized how quantities of cannabis and alcohol use affect sleep. Single-day and typical cannabis and alcohol use patterns were considered to assess acute-chronic use interactions. Linear and non-linear associations assessed dose-dependence. College students (n=337; 52% female) provided 11,417 days of data, with up to five time points per day. Daily self-reported sleep duration, cannabis use quantity, and alcohol use quantity were subjected to linear mixed modeling to capture linear and curvilinear associations between single-day and typical use on same-night and typical sleep. Sleep duration (difference between bedtime and waketime) was the outcome. Quantity of cannabis used each day andtypical quantity used across all days were predictors in the cannabis models. Parallel single-day and typical alcohol variables were predictors in the alcohol models. Follow-up analyses excluded days with alcohol-cannabis co-use. Main effects of single-day and typical cannabis quantity on sleep duration were observed when all cannabis-use days were modeled. Higher than typical doses of single-day and typical cannabis were associated with longer sleep durations, but only to a point; at the highest doses, cannabis shortened sleep. A main effect of single-day alcohol quantity and two interactions (single-day use with both linear and curvilinear typical use) on sleep duration were observed when all alcohol-use days were modeled. Greater alcohol consumption on a given day led to shorter same-night sleep, but typically heavier drinkers required higher doses than typically lighter drinkers to experience these adverse effects. Follow-up models suggested alcohol co-use may contribute to the purported sleep-promoting effects of cannabis.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/17	Ameral, Victoria; Reilly, Meghan E.; Palm Reed, Kathleen M.; Hines, Denise A.	Frequency of Use Matters: The Role of Peer Norms and Approval on College Students' Marijuana Use	2018-07-07	Cannabis; Vol. 1 No. 2 (2018): Cannabis; 14-21	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/cannabis.2018.02.002/9	Social norms play a critical role in motivation for marijuana use, particularly for emerging adults. The current report evaluated the differential impact of perceived approval of friends (injunctive norms) and perception of friends' use (descriptive norms) on marijuana use in n=187 college students. While injunctive norms were significantly associated with participants' marijuana use, most reported their friends would be indifferent to abstinence or infrequent use. Our model using a traditional measure of injunctive norms indicated that perceptions of friends' approval of marijuana use is not uniquely associated with use when considered in combination with descriptive norms. Given the lack of variability in perceptions of friends' approval of all but regular use, we compared our original model with an exploratory one evaluating the differential impact of injunctive norms for regular use in addition to descriptive norms. Results indicated that perceptions of friends' approval of regular use influenced participants' use above and beyond perceptions of friends' actual use. Such findings may be indicative of the current social climate, in which occasional use of marijuana is accepted, and may parallel similar findings in the binge drinking literature. Limitations and future directions are discussed. DOI: 10.26828/cannabis.2018.02.002 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/180	Davis, Alan; Arterberry, Brooke; Xin, Yitong; Hubbard, Sterling; Schwarting, Corrine; Bonar, Erin	Incremental Predictive Validity of the Dualistic Model of Passion for Cannabis Use Among College Undergraduate Students With and Without a Cannabis Use Disorder	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 6 No. 3 (2023): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 1	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/180/115	Introduction: We examined whether the Dualistic Model of Passion (DMP; i.e., obsessive passion [OP] and harmonious passion [HP]) for cannabis use was prospectively associated with cannabis use and use-related outcomes, and with academic performance, relationship attachment style, and social connectedness among college students. We also explored whether the DMP was associated with outcomes when included in a model using established constructs (e.g., coping motives, refusal self-efficacy, cannabis use disorder [CUD] symptoms) as predictors of cannabis use and outcomes. Methods: Using a longitudinal cohort design (baseline, 5-month, 10-month [timepoints chosen to better correspond to 9-month academic year]), 513 undergraduate students from two universities who reported using cannabis at least four times in the past month completed a baseline survey (308 meeting criteria for CUD). We used Generalized Estimating Equations to assess longitudinal associations between OP/HP and cannabis use and academic/social outcomes at 5-month and 10-month. Results: At baseline, participants were young adults (Mean age = 20.57, SD = 2.51), 78.8% non-Hispanic, 83.8% White, 55.0% female, and 72.3% heterosexual. Greater HP was not associated with greater past month cannabis use or cannabis-related problems. Greater OP was associated with greater past month cannabis use and more cannabis-related problems. There were no significant passion by time interactions. Greater HP was associated with more anxious attachment. OP was associated with less social connection. Conclusion: This research suggests that the DMP provides novel information about factors associated with cannabis use and use-related consequences, which can aid in our understanding of cannabis use, misuse, and CUD among college students.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/183	Blair, Alexandra; Clawson, Ashley ; Keirns, Natalie; Mullins, Larry ; Chaney, John; Cole, Ashley	The Moderating Role of Health Status on the Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Cannabis Vaping	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 2; 127-145	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/183/150	Objective: Cannabis vaping is increasing among college students. There is little information on risk factors for vaping cannabis. Consistent with the self-medication hypothesis, experiencing depressive symptoms and having a chronic medical condition (CMC) are associated with cannabis use among young adults. Individuals who experience both risk factors may be at higher risk for cannabis vaping. This study examined cross-sectional associations between depressive symptoms, CMC status, and cannabis vaping, and identified the moderating role of CMC status on depressive symptoms and cannabis vaping. Method: College students (N = 3,742) self-reported on depressive symptoms, CMC status, and lifetime and current cannabis vaping (i.e., cannabis vaporizers; electronic nicotine devices to use cannabis). Data were collected Fall 2017 until Spring 2021. The sample was predominantly female (70.9%) and White (75.4%). Regression analyses were used. Results: Greater depressive symptoms were related to increased likelihood of cannabis vaping across outcomes. Having a CMC was related to lifetime history of cannabis vaporizing. CMC status moderated the associations between depressive symptoms and lifetime cannabis vaporizing. Depressive symptoms were only a risk factor for cannabis vaporizing among college students without a CMC, not those with a CMC. Conclusions: Interventions that teach adaptive ways of coping with depressive symptoms and the potential demands of managing a CMC in college are needed. Comprehensive programs for college students, with and without CMCs, are needed to support those with comorbid depression and cannabis vaping use. 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/184	Gette, Jordan; Sokolovsky, Alexander W.; Gunn, Rachel L; Boyle, Holly K; Jackson, Kristina M; White, Helene R	Latent Classes of Simultaneous Alcohol and Cannabis Use and Associations with Consequences using Daily Data	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 2; 33-48	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/184/144	Objective: Simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use (i.e., marijuana, [SAM], using alcohol and cannabis so effects overlap) is associated with increased consumption and consequences compared to single-substance use. SAM use prevalence is increasing, yet there is heterogeneity in use patterns among those engaging in SAM use, which may lead to differential consequences. Method: This study drew on daily data to characterize latent profiles of cannabis, alcohol, and SAM use patterns and to test class differences on related consequences after 3 months among college students engaging in SAM use (77.08% White, 51.67% female). Class indicators were 10 person-level substance use variables derived from repeated daily surveys. Results: Results yielded a three-class solution: Heavy Alcohol, Cannabis, and SAM (Heavy Use, n = 105); Heavy Alcohol-Light Cannabis (n = 75); and Light Alcohol-Heavy Cannabis (n = 60). There were significant person-level differences between classes on all substance use indicators (e.g., quantity and frequency of alcohol, cannabis, and SAM) but not sex or race/ethnicity. At 3-month follow-up, the Heavy Use class endorsed more SAM consequences than the other classes. The Heavy Use class did not differ on alcohol or cannabis consequences compared to the Heavy Alcohol-Light Cannabis or Light Alcohol-Heavy Cannabis classes, respectively. The Light Alcohol-Heavy Cannabis class endorsed the fewest alcohol consequences. The Heavy Alcohol-Light Cannabis class endorsed the fewest cannabis consequences. Conclusions: Findings highlight distinct patterns of co-use and their association with consequences at follow-up. Heavy alcohol or cannabis use was associated with consequences for that substance, but heavy use of only one substance was not indicative of SAM-specific consequences. 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/185	Gebru, Nioud; James, Tyler; Foxx, Ricarda; Castro, Michelle; Yurasek, Ali	Measuring Cannabis Reinforcement among Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Examination	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 93-107	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/185/116	Introduction: Increasing reinforcement received from cannabis-free activities, relative to reinforcement from cannabis-related activities, is one way to reduce harmful cannabis use. Thus, accurate measurement of cannabis reinforcement is important. Using convergent mixed methods, we developed the Adolescent Reinforcement Survey Schedule-Cannabis Use Version (ARSS-CUV). ARSS-CUV, adapted from the alcohol use version, measures cannabis reinforcement by asking individuals how frequently they engaged in, and how much they enjoyed, different activities when using and not using cannabis. Method: Young adults (N = 65; Mage = 20.4 years [SD = 1.8]) completed measures of cannabis use, the ARSS-CUV, and provided feedback on included activities, via focus groups. Following Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing framework, this study examined evidence of measurement validity based on item content. Results: Quantitative findings revealed that peer interactions were the most reinforcing activities, whereas activities related to family were least reinforcing. Qualitative findings indicated some confusion with question wording. Participants also indicated the importance of environmental context when using cannabis and noted who they use cannabis with may be more important than the activity they are doing. Changes were made to survey flow and response choices after participant feedback. Conclusions: ARSS-CUV includes revisions in activities solicited and response format. The revised ARSS-CUV provides opportunities to advance measurement of an important construct (i.e., reinforcement) in the study of cannabis use. Psychometric properties of the ARSS-CUV across different populations and contexts of use (e.g., polysubstance use) should be examined.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/186	Himebaugh, Sean; Romero, Deanna; Clobes, Thomas	Cannabis And College Students: Self-Perceived Mental Health Prior to, During, and After the Pandemic	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 2; 146-154	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/186/151	Introduction: College students demonstrated changes in levels of mental wellbeing as they and the world experienced new levels of stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As access to healthcare became limited, students turned to alternative methods of coping, which included cannabis use. Objective: To determine if an association between cannabis use and self-perceived mental wellbeing during the pandemic among college students exists. Method: A paired samples t-Test was used to compare self-reported mental wellbeing at different times during the pandemic, a one-way ANOVA to compare self-reported mental health between respondents' cannabis use status, and a Tukey-Kramer post-hoc analysis was used to determine between group significance. All data collected were from participants at a single time point (retrospective self-report during April 2022). Results: Of 103 self-reported college students, the most significant differences in mental wellbeing were reported prior to and during the pandemic. Consistent significant differences were observed between each of the college student groups derived from those students who entirely avoided cannabis use or cessation of use (highest rating), p = .018, as compared to those who initiated cannabis use prior to and during the pandemic (lowest rating) p = .045. Post pandemic mental wellbeing demonstrated a higher level of mental wellbeing among those who had some exposure to cannabis compared to those who avoided cannabis entirely. Conclusions: It cannot be concluded that mental wellbeing was lower due to cannabis use. However, it is possible those with lower self-perceived mental wellbeing turned to cannabis use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/189	Berry, Katherine; Nicholas Livingston; EmmaJo Briles; Alison Looby	Examining the Relation Between Social Anxiety and Cannabis Problems Among College Students Through Coping-Related Expectancies and Motives	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 2; 67-81	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/189/152	Objective: College students high in social anxiety are at increased risk for cannabis-related problems. This may be particularly true when they hold strong coping-related expectancies and motives for cannabis. However, few studies have examined these constructs together in accordance with the motivational model, which posits that substance use is proximally influenced by motives and more distally influenced by expectancies. Thus, the current study examined whether the relation between social anxiety and cannabis-related problems was indirectly explained through coping-related expectancies, motives, and cannabis use. Method: Past-month cannabis users (N = 660; 71.6% female, 47.3% white non-Hispanic) from seven U.S. universities completed an online survey assessing social anxiety, and cannabis use frequency, problems, expectancies, and motives. A saturated path model examined social anxiety as a predictor of cannabis problems via coping-related expectancies and motives, and cannabis frequency. Results: There was a positive indirect effect of social anxiety on cannabis problems through cognitive and behavioral impairment expectancies, depression coping motives, and cannabis use. Social anxiety also indirectly positively related to cannabis problems via social and sexual facilitation expectancies, social anxiety coping motives, and cannabis use. Further, social anxiety indirectly positively related to cannabis problems through relaxation and tension reduction expectancies, both depression and social anxiety coping motives, and cannabis use. These indirect effects were invariant by sex assigned at birth.  Conclusions: Results support using a theory-informed model of coping-related cannabis cognitions to understand the relation between social anxiety and cannabis problems. Interventions that modify coping-related cognitions may reduce cannabis-related problems in college students high in social anxiety.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/190	Vieira, Jenna; Snaychuk, Lindsey; Milicevic, Jana; Hodgins, David; Shead, Will; Keough, Matthew; Kim, Andrew (Hyounsoo)	Adverse Childhood Experiences and Problematic Cannabis Use: The Role of Emotion Dysregulation and Affective Impulsivity	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 2; 111-126	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/190/149	Problematic cannabis use is highly prevalent among postsecondary students. Consequently, there is a need to examine risk factors associated with problematic cannabis use in this population. The present study investigated whether emotion dysregulation mediates the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and problematic cannabis use, and whether affective impulsivity (negative and positive urgency) uniquely moderates this relationship. Participants consisted of current cannabis users (N = 586) recruited from five universities across Canada. Participants completed an online survey containing self-report measures of ACEs, emotion dysregulation, negative and positive urgency, and problematic cannabis use. Among the sample of postsecondary students, 36% (n = 213) met the threshold for problematic cannabis use. Moderated-mediation analyses revealed that ACEs were positively associated with emotion dysregulation and problematic cannabis use. There was also a significant indirect effect of emotion dysregulation on the association between ACEs and problematic cannabis use at moderate and high (but not low) levels of negative urgency, and at moderate and high (but not low) levels of positive urgency. The moderated-mediation models remained significant when controlling for other facets of impulsivity. Results suggest that elevated levels of emotion dysregulation and urgency are important proximal risk factors for problematic cannabis use among postsecondary students with a history of ACEs. While ACEs cannot be modified given their occurrence in the past, interventions that aim to build mindfulness and adaptive emotion regulation skills may be beneficial for reducing the likelihood that these students will engage in impulsive behaviors, such as cannabis use, when experiencing emotional distress. 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/191	Montemayor, Benjamin; Nabil, Anas; Merianos, Ashley	Risk Factors for Quantity of Cannabis Use Per Day among College Students Who Violated Their University Drug Use Policy	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 2; 1-14	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/191/141	Background: Cannabis use among college students represents a continued public health issue. The objective was to assess risk factors and reasons for cannabis use among students who violated their university’s drug use policy, and whether risk factors influenced cannabis use quantity. Methods: This cross-sectional survey study included 99 college students enrolled at a large U.S. public university. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and an ordinary least squares regression analysis was conducted. Results: Students reported using cannabis an average of 7.4 (SD = 10.2) days in the past month, with 8% reporting daily use. On average, students consumed slightly over 0.25 (SD = 0.25) grams per day, with 40% reporting greater than one gram per day. The average age of onset of cannabis use was 16.8 (SD = 1.8) years old. The top reasons for cannabis use were to: relax or relieve tension (75.8%), feel good or get high (62.6%), and have a good time with friends (60.6%). Students perceived an average of 47% of their peers engaged in past-month cannabis use and only slight risk was associated with regular use. Students perceived their loved ones would mostly approve of a reduction in their cannabis use. Regression results indicated past-month cannabis frequency (p = .002) and being of racial/ethnic minority descent (p = .05) were positively associated with quantity of cannabis per day, while perceived risk of regular cannabis use (b  = -0.21) was negatively associated. Conclusion: Evidence-based cannabis interventions for students who violate their university’s drug use policies are critically needed that aim to reduce cannabis use and mitigate its associated negative consequences.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/192	Alexis Blessing; Russell, Patricia; Stout, Madison; Barrera-Barker, Juan; Morissette, Sandra	The Influence on Anxiety and Avoidant Coping on Probable Cannabis Use Disorder	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 2; 15-22	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/192/142	Objective: Individuals with anxiety frequently use cannabis to cope and are at greater risk for developing probable cannabis use disorder (CUD). Previous literature suggests avoidant coping styles are associated with higher anxiety levels and risk for problematic cannabis use, while action-oriented coping is associated with lower anxiety and problematic cannabis use. No studies have examined whether anxiety and action- oriented coping or avoidant coping interact to influence risk for CUD, which was the aim of the present study. Method: College students were recruited as part of a cross-sectional study on cannabis use. Participants (N = 371; 72.2% female) completed the Depression Anxiety and Stress Subscale (DASS-21), Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R), and the Brief-COPE (B-COPE). Results: The data were analyzed using logistic moderation analysis. After controlling for gender, anxiety was a positive significant predictor of probable CUD, but action-oriented coping and avoidant coping were not. The interaction between anxiety and avoidant coping on probable CUD was significant, indicating that participants with high avoidant coping (regardless of high or low anxiety) and those with high anxiety (even with low avoidant coping) were more likely to have probable CUD than those with both low anxiety and low avoidant coping. No significant interaction was observed with action-oriented coping. Conclusions: Results suggest that avoidant coping, but not action-oriented coping, influences the relationship between anxiety and risk for probable CUD. Findings emphasize the importance of targeting both anxiety and avoidant coping when considering risk for probable CUD. 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/193	Guo, Ying; Dai, Chia-Liang; Ward, Rose Marie; Mason, W. Alex	The Interaction of Cannabis Consumption with Heavy Episodic Drinking and Alcohol-Induced Blackouts in Relation to Cannabis Use Consequences Among Recent Undergraduate College Cannabis Users	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 2; 23-32	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/193/143	Introduction: Risky alcohol use patterns, characterized by heavy episodic drinking (HED) and alcohol-induced blackout, are prevalent in college students. However, it is not clear if experiencing HED and blackout among college-attending cannabis users heightens risk for adverse cannabis use consequences. The purpose of this study was to examine whether heavy episodic drinking and blackout episodes moderate the relationship between cannabis consumption and cannabis use consequences among college students. Methods: Undergraduate college students (n = 4331) were recruited from a Midwest University in 2021. This analysis used a subset of data from past 6-month cannabis users (n= 772; 17.8% of the full sample). Among cannabis users, 64.5% identified as female and 87.8% were White with an average age of 19.99 (SD=2.88). A linear regression was conducted with two two-way interactions of cannabis consumption and HED frequency as well as cannabis consumption and alcohol-induced blackout episodes. Results: Results showed a statistically significant positive association between cannabis consumption and cannabis use consequences (B=0.73, p<.001), adjusting for the other variables in the model. Blackout, but not HED, was a significant moderator (B=0.19, p=.003). Discussion: The findings of this study indicate that blackout experiences amplify the relationship between cannabis use and cannabis-related consequences among college students. This underscores that blackouts not only signal a risk of problematic drinking but also exacerbate the association between cannabis use and its negative consequences. Conclusion: Findings may inform college campus interventions targeting cannabis and alcohol concurrent-users who experience alcohol-induced blackouts to reduce their additional risk for cannabis-related consequences. 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/194	Smith-LeCavalier, Kirstyn; Morris, Paige ; Larimer, Mary; Buckner, Julia; Walukevich-Dienst, Katherine	General and Domain-Specific Perceived Risk Demonstrate Unique Associations with Cannabis Use, Negative Outcomes, and Motivation to Change among Undergraduate Students	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 2; 49-66	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/194/145	College student cannabis use is at an all-time high. Although frequent heavy cannabis use is related to cannabis problems, perceived risk of cannabis use is rapidly decreasing. Yet, it is unknown whether specific domains of risk perceptions (general and domain-specific risk, risk to others and personal risk) are related to more cannabis use or related problems. Thus, among 130 undergraduates who reported past-month cannabis use, the present study conducted secondary analyses to test whether, for both perceived risk to others and perceived personal risk: (1) general perceived risk was associated with cannabis-related outcomes (i.e., use, negative consequences, cannabis use disorder (CUD) symptoms, motivation to change), (2) seven specific domains of perceived risk were related to cannabis outcomes, and (3) domain-specific perceived risk was related to cannabis use frequency. General perceived risk to others was negatively associated with cannabis use frequency whereas general perceived personal risk was positively associated with cannabis-related negative consequences, CUD symptoms, and importance and readiness to change. Greater legal and withdrawal/dependence risks were uniquely related to several outcomes (e.g., CUD symptoms). Participants who used cannabis frequently perceived more personal risk in most risk domains and less general risk to others than those who used infrequently. Findings suggest personal risk is an important component to consider when assessing perceived risk of cannabis use and focusing on both general and domain-specific risks may provide valuable insight for future prevention and intervention efforts.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/197	Giaquinto, Francesca; Knapp, Jessica; Kulak, Jessica; Kimberly Kamper DeMarco	Correlates of Cannabis Use and Self-Control Across a Diverse Sample of College Students: 2020-2022	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue: College Student Cannabis Use Vol. 2; 99-110	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/197/148	Background: Despite the established relationship between substance use and self-control, it is unknown how the COVID-19 pandemic may have played a role in this association. Given the unique circumstances of the pandemic along with changing societal regulations surrounding cannabis use, and their collective impact on college students, there is a need to examine the relationship between cannabis and self-control during the pandemic era. Methods: Data was collected from a repeated cross-sectional sample of college students at a mid-sized, urban U.S. institution during 2020-2022. Logistic and negative binominal regression analyses along with an ANCOVA were conducted to examine associations between self-control and past 30-day cannabis use. Results: Lower self-control was significantly associated with using cannabis in the past 30-days with those individuals with self-reported low self-control using cannabis significantly more and more times per day. Finally, we found that both past 30-day cannabis use and cohort significantly predicted self-control with both individuals who report past 30-day cannabis use and the 2020 cohort reporting lower levels of self-control. There was not a significant interaction effect. Conclusions: Despite evolving legislation regarding both medicinal and recreational cannabis use, colleges often maintain drug-free campus policies. Given high rates of cannabis use among college students and continued development of self-control, this association should be examined longitudinally and considered when creating college-level cannabis policies. Implications for college students surrounding COVID-era environments, and self-control are discussed.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/200	Corcoran, Erin; Janssen, Tim; Gabrielli, Joy; Jackson, Kristina	Cross-substance Effects of Adolescent Exposure to Alcohol Content in Popular Movies on Cannabis Initiation	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 38-50	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/200/163	Objective: Alcohol is the most frequently depicted substance in the media, and adolescent exposure to alcohol in the media predicts alcohol use. There is relatively little research on exposure to cannabis in the media, but exposure to alcohol content may exert cross-substance effects on cannabis use. Given the social and health risks associated with early cannabis use, the present study aims to assess the cross-substance effects of exposure to alcohol media content on age of cannabis initiation. Method: A sample of 830 middle school students (53% female) reported on movie alcohol exposure and cannabis initiation longitudinally until high school completion. Discrete-time survival models examined whether movie alcohol exposure predicted subsequent initiation among students who were cannabis-naïve at baseline, controlling for demographic, social, and behavioral covariates. The interaction between sex and movie alcohol exposure was also explored. Results: One third (33%) of participants reported cannabis initiation with a mean of 5.57 estimated hours (SD = 4.29) of movie alcohol exposure. A 1-hour increase in movie exposure predicted a significant 16% increased probability of cannabis initiation in models adjusted for demographic variables and a significant 14% increase in models adjusted for demographic, behavioral, and social variables. No differences were observed across sex. Conclusions: Greater adolescent exposure to alcohol content in the media was associated with earlier cannabis initiation above and beyond other etiologically relevant demographic, behavioral, and social variables. The influence of cross-substance media exposures warrants further exploration and should be taken into consideration in the development of preventive interventions for youth substance use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/203	Bradley, Abigail; Salmon, Melissa ; Wohl, Michael; Howard, Andrea	Impact of Legalization on Cannabis Use, Attitudes, and Purchasing Preferences: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey of Canadian Young Adults	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 65-76	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/203/165	Objective: The Government of Canada legalized recreational cannabis use in October of 2018 with the implementation of the Cannabis Act. The act aimed to reduce the illicit cannabis market, improve consumer health outcomes, and reduce youth access to cannabis. However, little is known about the attitudes and behaviors of young adults, who have been shown to have a high prevalence of cannabis use, towards cannabis after legalization. Method: In this descriptive study, we examined cannabis use, attitudes, and purchasing preferences among Canadian university-attending young adults both before and after the legalization of cannabis. Participants were recruited from a large Canadian university from 2017 to 2021. Results: Our findings showed that there was an increase in cannabis use immediately following legalization that subsequently decreased in later years. Additionally, attitudes about the legalization of cannabis became more favorable in later years (following legalization), particularly among those who did not use cannabis. Most young adults were also keen to purchase cannabis from a government-owned store before legalization. However, with the exception of past-month consumers, this preference decreased substantially following legalization. Conclusions: The current research adds to the knowledge base about changes in cannabis-related attitudes and use after legalization and focuses on a key population – young adults.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/206	Smith, Gregory	Weight Loss and Therapeutic Metabolic Effects of Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)-Infused Mucoadhesive Strips	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 109-120	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/206/167	Objective: Metabolic syndrome is due to dysregulation that starts with fat accumulation, causing inflammatory response, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and fatty liver disease. The endocannabinoid system, via cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), has been shown to be involved with energy homeostasis and regulation of appetitive behavior via activity in the hypothalamus, limbic forebrain and amygdala and in the peripheral tissues including adipose, liver and muscle. Therefore, two phytocannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), a CB1 neutral antagonist, and cannabidiol (CBD), a negative allosteric modulator of CB1, are expected to have therapeutic metabolic benefits, including weight loss. Method: A placebo-controlled study was conducted on 44 subjects (31 females and 13 males) with an average age of 51.75. The study evaluated the efficacy of two different doses of THCV and CBD (8 mg THCV/10 mg CBD in the lower dose and 16 mg THCV/20 mg CBD in the higher dose), taken once daily for 90 days via mucoadhesive oral strips, for weight loss and improvement of certain metabolic markers. Results: Use of the THCV/CBD strip was associated with statistically significant weight loss, decreases in abdominal girth, systolic blood pressure, and total and LDL cholesterol. The study was limited by small sample sizes in both the high dose and placebo groups. Conclusions: The 16 mg/20 mg daily dose was superior for weight loss compared to the 8 mg/10 mg daily dose; both sets of results differed from placebo in a way that was statistically significant. The results of this study were congruent with the prior unpublished studies of a hemp extract containing significant percentages of  THCV, CBDV and CBD.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/208	Walker, Mariah; Lake, Stephanie ; Tempero, Jose; Ong, Kaye; Lucas, Philippe	Age-related Patterns of Medical Cannabis Use: A Survey of Authorized Patients in Canada	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 135-149	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/208/154	Objective: An increasing number of Canadians are registering as authorized users of medical cannabis. Older patients comprise a growing subset of this population; however, relatively little information exists around age-related patterns of medical cannabis use. Methods: The Canadian Cannabis Patient Survey (CCPS) is a large cross-sectional survey of authorized medical cannabis patients in Canada. This publication summarizes the results of the CCPS 2021, with a focus on age-related outcomes and the elderly sub-population. Results: The survey was completed by 2,697 patients. The mean age of participants was 54.3 years of age and the proportion of female respondents was 49.1%. Among older patients, pain was the most common symptom, while anxiety was the most common symptom reported by younger patients. Older patients exhibited a significant preference for oral administration over inhalation of medical cannabis when compared to younger patients, respectively (p>0.05). Among patients taking prescription opioids, most of whom were older patients, 54% reported a decrease in use concurrent with medical cannabis. Conclusions: Older patients comprise a growing subset of medical cannabis patients, which is also reflected in CCPS participants over time. This patient population exhibits different patterns of use compared to their younger counterparts, preferring high CBD orally ingested formulations, which they use primarily to treat pain-related illnesses/symptoms. Overall, study participants reported that cannabis had a high degree of efficacy in alleviating their illness/symptoms, and many reported a reduction in their use of prescription opioids, alcohol, tobacco, and other substances.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/20	Pedersen, Eric R.; Villarosa-Hurlocker, Margo C.; Prince, Mark A.	Use of Protective Behavioral Strategies among Young Adult Veteran Marijuana Users	2018-01-30	Cannabis; Vol. 1 No. 1 (2018): Cannabis; 14-27	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/20/4	Young adult veterans are at risk for problematic marijuana use and associated consequences, which is partially due to their high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and problematic substance use. Veterans tend to endorse more severe and chronic mental health symptoms compared to their civilian counterparts and they endorse marijuana use as a method for coping with their mental health symptoms. Given the prevalence of marijuana among veterans in the community and in clinical settings, it is important to explore the factors that may help minimize harm associated with use for those that choose to use the drug. The present study sought to examine the impact of protective behavioral strategies on the relationship between mental health symptoms and marijuana use and consequences in a sample of 180 young adult veteran marijuana users. Participants were recruited via social media advertisements and completed measures of marijuana use and consequences, protective behavioral strategies, and PTSD and depression symptoms. Findings indicated that more frequent use of protective behavioral strategies was associated with less marijuana use and consequences. Participants who screened positive for PTSD or depression reported more marijuana consequences than did those not positive on these screeners. Regression analyses revealed protective strategies moderated the relationship between PTSD and marijuana consequences such that young veterans who endorsed more PTSD symptoms and infrequent use of protective strategies reported the most marijuana consequences. No moderating effects were found for the relationship between depression and marijuana consequences. Findings have clinical implications for working with young veterans. DOI: 10.26828/cannabis.2018.01.002
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/211	Montgomery, Zannie; Michelini, Yanina; Bravo, Adrian J.; Pilatti, Angelina; Mezquita, Laura; Study Team, Cross-Cultural Addictions	Substance Use Motives as Mediators of the Associations between Self-Control Constructs and Negative Substance Use Consequences: A Cross-Cultural Examination	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 77-92	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/211/161	The present study sought to examine three distinct research questions: a) are self-control constructs (i.e., negative/positive urgency, self-regulation, and emotion-regulation) indirectly related to negative alcohol/marijuana consequences via substance use motives, b) to what extent are these indirect effects consistent across differing drugs (i.e., alcohol and marijuana), and c) are these models invariant across gender and countries. Participants were 2,230 college students (mean age=20.28, SD=0.40; 71.1% females) across 7 countries (USA, Canada, Spain, England, Argentina, Uruguay, and South Africa) who consumed alcohol and marijuana in the last month.  Two (one for alcohol and one for marijuana) fully saturated path models were conducted, such that indirect paths were examined for each self-control construct and substance use motive on negative consequences (e.g., negative urgency → coping motives → negative consequences) within the same model. Within the comprehensive alcohol model, we found that lower self-regulation and higher negative urgency/suppression were related to more alcohol consequences via higher coping and conformity motives. For marijuana, we found that lower self-regulation and higher negative urgency/suppression were related to more marijuana consequences via higher coping motives (not significant for conformity motives). Unique to marijuana, we did find support for higher expansion motives indirectly linking positive urgency to more negative consequences. These results were invariant across gender groups and only minor differences across countries emerged. Prevention and intervention programs of alcohol and marijuana around university campuses may benefit from targeting self-control related skills in addition to motives to drug use to prevent and reduce negative drug-related consequences.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/215	Mullin, Christopher; Cservenka, Anita	Cannabis Use and Academic Performance in College Students: The Role of Procrastination	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 108-122	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/215/131	Objective: The current study investigated procrastination as a potential moderator of the association between cannabis use and college grade point average (GPA). Participants: 220 college students (ages 18-24; 71.8% female) in the Northwestern U.S. who were registered for classes in Fall 2021. Methods: Demographic questions, substance use history, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, and a Procrastination scale were completed via an online survey. Official term and cumulative GPA records were also collected. Results: A regression model indicated that procrastination moderated the association between lifetime cannabis use and cumulative college GPA, whereas this moderation was not present when examining the relationship between past month cannabis use and term GPA. Conclusion: The current study identifies a putatively modifiable factor that may be related to academic performance for students who use cannabis. These results may help inform future interventions designed to help students using cannabis succeed academically.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/216	Sridharan, Priyanka; Romm, Katelyn ; Berg, Carla	Use of Cannabis for Medical or Recreational Purposes Among US Young Adults: Correlates and Implications for Problematic Use and Interest in Quitting	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 51-64	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/216/164	Objective: Recreational and medical cannabis use has increased, particularly among young adults, but little is known regarding who uses for these purposes or how purpose of use is associated with problematic use. Method: We analyzed Fall 2019 survey data among 1,083 US young adults (ages 18-34) reporting past 6-month cannabis use. Multivariable regression analyses examined: 1) characteristics of those using for only/primarily medical purposes, primarily recreationally, and only recreationally vs. equally for medical and recreational purposes (referent; multinomial logistic); and 2) reasons for use in relation to cannabis use disorder symptoms (linear) and driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC; binary logistic). Results: 37.1% used only recreationally, 23.5% primarily recreationally, 21.5% equally for both, and 17.8% medically. Compared to those using equally for medical and recreational purposes, those using only/primarily medically had fewer friends who used cannabis; those using primarily recreationally were younger, more educated, less likely used tobacco, and reported fewer ACEs. Those using only recreationally were younger, more likely male, less likely to report an ADHD diagnosis or past-month alcohol or tobacco use, and reported fewer friends who used cannabis, ACEs, and depressive symptoms. Using equally for medical and recreational purposes (vs. all other cannabis use subgroups) correlated with greater use disorder symptoms and DUIC. Conclusions: Using cannabis equally for medical and recreational purposes may pose particularly high-risk, given the association with greater mental health concerns and problematic use. Understanding use profiles and how young adults interpret and distinguish medical and recreational use is critical.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/217	Vogel, Erin; Romm, Katelyn; Berg, Carla	Emotion Regulation Moderates Associations between Discrimination and Cannabis Use Patterns among Sexual Minority Young Adult Women	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 11-23	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/217/135	Background: Sexual minority young adults (SMYAs) experience discrimination and have high cannabis use prevalence. Discrimination may be associated with cannabis use, including hazardous use and co-use with tobacco, depending on emotion regulation and gender. Methods: Fall 2020 survey data assessed discrimination, use frequency of emotion regulation strategies (i.e., cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression), current cannabis use, hazardous use, and cannabis-tobacco dual use among SMYAs (age 18-34) in 6 United States metropolitan areas (women: n=450, Mage =24.1, SD=4.7, 69.6% bisexual, 18.2% lesbian/gay, 12.2% other; men: n=254, Mage=24.7, SD=4.5, 33.5% bisexual, 54.3% gay, 12.2% other). Multivariable logistic regression examined the moderating roles of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression on associations of discrimination with cannabis use outcomes, stratified by gender and adjusted for age, race and ethnicity, and employment. Results: Among SMYA women, 89.5% experienced any discrimination; 53.1% reported current cannabis use, of whom 49.4% and 47.7% reported hazardous use and cannabis-tobacco dual use, respectively. Adjusting for sociodemographics, experiencing greater discrimination was associated with greater odds of hazardous cannabis use (aOR=1.08, 95% CI [1.02, 1.15]) and cannabis-tobacco dual use (aOR=1.04, 95% CI [1.01, 1.08]) among SMYA women with greater use of expressive suppression. Among SMYA men, 83.9% experienced any discrimination; 49.2% reported current cannabis use, of whom 55.2% and 44.0% reported hazardous use and cannabis-tobacco dual use. Discrimination and emotion regulation were unrelated to cannabis use outcomes among men. Conclusions: Given high rates of discrimination experiences among SMYAs, emotion regulation skills training may empower SMYAs, particularly women, to cope with discrimination without using cannabis.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/223	Pipitone, R. Nathan; Banai, Benjamin; Walters, Jessica; Dautrich, Tyler ; Schuller, Kelly ; Rosenthal, Martha	Using Smartphone Technology to Track Real-Time Changes in Anxiety/Depression Symptomatology Among Florida Cannabis Users	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 123-134	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/223/158	Objective: Recent scientific attention has focused on the therapeutic effectiveness of cannabis use on a variety of physical and mental ailments. The present study uses smartphone technology to assess self-reported experiences of Florida cannabis users to understand how cannabis may impact anxiety and depression symptomatology. Method: Several hundred Releaf AppTM users from the state of Florida provided anonymous, real-time reports of their symptoms of anxiety and/or depression immediately before and after cannabis use sessions. Linear mixed-effects modeling was used to analyze the data at the symptom and user level. Results: Results showed that for the majority of users, cannabis use was associated with a significant decrease in depression and anxiety symptomatology. While symptom type, doses per session, consumption method, and CBD levels were significant predictors of relief change, their effect sizes were small and should be interpreted with caution. At the user level, those who had positive relief outcomes in anxiety reported more doses and sessions, and those in the depression group reported more sessions. Conclusions: Our results generally support the therapeutic effectiveness of cannabis against depression/anxiety symptomatology. Future work should include standardized statistics and effect size estimates for a better understanding of each variable’s practical contribution to this area of study.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/224	Marinello, Samantha	The Impact of Recreational Cannabis Markets on Cannabis Use Among Adolescents and Adults: A Synthetic Control Analysis	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 50-64	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/224/166	Objective: To assess the longer-term impacts of recreational cannabis markets on cannabis use among adolescents and adults across five U.S. states. Method: Drawing on state-level data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, this study uses a novel method of causal inference called the synthetic control method with staggered treatment adoption to estimate the pooled effect of recreational markets on prevalence and initiation of use in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Nevada. Three separate models were used for those 12-17, 18-25, and 26 and older. Pre-treatment state-level characteristics and trends in cannabis use were used to generate synthetic control weights. Confidence intervals were constructed using a leave-one-out jackknifing method. Results: Synthetic controls and treated states were similar in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, prevalence of other drug use, and trends in cannabis use prior to the implementation of recreational markets. The study results revealed moderate increases in prevalence and initiation of use among adolescents aged 12-17 (11% and 13%, respectively), and large increases in prevalence and initiation of use among young adults aged 18-25 (17% and 33%, respectively) and older adults aged 26 and older (33% and 82%, respectively) 2-4 years after dispensaries became operational. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest recreational cannabis markets have increased prevalence and initiation of cannabis use among adolescents and adults. These increases may lead to adverse health outcomes depending on factors such as frequency of use and characteristics of users.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/225	McCool, Matison; Pearson, Matthew	Beyond Frequency and Quantity of Cannabis Consumption Among College Students: Context of Using Cannabis Relates to Cannabis-Related Outcomes	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 65-80	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/225/175	Objective: Due to little knowledge regarding the contextual factors related to cannabis use, we aimed to provide descriptive statistics regarding contextual factors related to use and examine the predictive ability of contextual factors. Method: We included college student participants (n = 5700; male = 2893, female = 3702, other gender identity = 48, missing = 57) from three multi-site studies in our analyses. We examined the means and standard deviations of contextual factors related to cannabis use (social context/setting, form of cannabis, route of administration, source of purchase, and proxies of use). Additionally, we tested the predictive ability of the contextual factors on cannabis use consequences, protective behavioral strategies, and severity of cannabis use disorder, via an exploratory machine learning model (random forest). Results: Descriptive statistics and the correlations between the contextual factors and the three outcomes are provided. Exploratory random forests indicated that contextual factors may be helpful in predicting consequences and protective behavioral strategies and especially useful in predicting the severity of cannabis use disorder. Conclusions: Contextual factors of cannabis use warrants further exploration, especially considering the difficulty in assessing dosage when individuals are likely to consume in a group context. We propose considering measuring contextual factors along with use in the past 30 days and consequences of use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/227	Morgan, Reed; Trager, Bradley; Boyle, Sarah; Rainosek, Layla; LaBrie, Joseph	Changes in Parent-Student Text Message and Phone Call Communication During the Transition to College as Predictors of Cannabis and Simultaneous Use During the First Year	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 24-37	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/227/153	Parent communication can be protective against cannabis use among young adults. However, changes in parent-student communication frequency naturally occur during the transition from high school to college. Recent research suggests declines in parent-student communication frequency predict increased drinking and consequences during the first year of college, yet these effects on other risky behaviors are unknown. The current study investigated whether post-matriculation changes in frequency of texting/calling with parents predict cannabis use and simultaneous use of cannabis and alcohol, and whether pre-matriculation cannabis and simultaneous use predict changes in communication. First-year students (N = 287, 61.3% female, 50.9% White) reported cannabis and simultaneous use pre- and post-matriculation (T1 & T3) and changes in frequency of texting/calling their mother/father per day (T2). Negative binomial hurdle models examined whether T2 changes in communication frequency predicted T3 cannabis and simultaneous use, and logistic regression models examined whether T1 cannabis and simultaneous use predicted T2 changes in communication frequency. Results revealed that increasing (vs. decreasing) frequency of calling with mothers and texting with fathers was protective against cannabis use, whereas increasing frequency of calling with fathers was associated with greater risk of use. Changes in communication did not significantly predict simultaneous use, nor did pre-matriculation cannabis or simultaneous use predict changes in either mode of communication with parents during the college transition. These findings highlight that changes in mother and father communication may be both beneficial and detrimental to cannabis use depending on the parent and mode of communication. Implications for these findings are discussed.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/229	Gendy, Marie N. S. ; Taisir, Radia; Britton, Emily; Costello, Jean; MacKillop, James	Rasch Analysis of Cannabis Use Disorder in an Adult Inpatient Sample	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 141-152	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/229/207	Objective: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version 5 (DSM-5) defines cannabis use disorder as a polythetic unidimensional diagnosis (>2 symptoms from up to 11), but few studies have empirically evaluated the latent structure of CUD. Rasch analysis is a psychometric technique that has previously been used to validate unidimensional scales, like DSM-5 CUD. Method: In this study, the Rasch model was used to evaluate the DSM-5 CUD criteria in a clinical sample of adults receiving inpatient treatment for substance use disorder (n = 249) reporting active cannabis use at admission. The unidimensionality of the criteria was evaluated using the Martin-Löf test and the nonparametric –T2 test of Ponocny. Model fit was assessed using the χ2goodness of fit test for individual items. Results: Results supported the unidimensional structure of the criteria. Symptom # 3 was the least endorsed, highest severity item. Conversely, symptom #9 was the most endorsed and had the lowest severity estimate. Overall, the data fit the Rasch model well, although misfit was observed for symptom # 8. Conclusions: Rasch's analysis of CUD symptoms in an inpatient sample broadly supports the DSM-5 CUD syndrome. Further examination is needed to determine if removing or revising the hazardous use symptom criterion in future DSM revisions would improve diagnostic measurement.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/22	Glasner, Suzette; Kay-Lambkin, Frances; Budney, Alan J.; Gitlin, Michael; Kagan, Bruce; Garneau, Helene Chokron; Venegas, Alexandra	Preliminary Outcomes of a Computerized CBT/MET Intervention for Depressed Cannabis Users in Psychiatry Care	2018-07-07	Cannabis; Vol. 1 No. 2 (2018): Cannabis; 36-47	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/cannabis.2018.02.004/11	Although depression is common among cannabis users, there is a paucity of targeted interventions addressing depression and cannabis use disorders concurrently. In the present pilot study, we examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a computer-assisted intervention combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET) techniques for adults with comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and cannabis use disorder (CUD) presenting for care in a psychiatric setting. Adults with MDD and CUD (N=26) recruited from mental health care settings were enrolled in a 10-week, computer-assisted psychosocial intervention: Self-Help for Alcohol and other Drug Use and Depression (SHADE). Feasibility, acceptability, perceived helpfulness, treatment retention, completion, and clinical outcomes including cannabis use and depression were assessed. Participants found the SHADE intervention to be acceptable and helpful in facilitating action towards their therapeutic goals concerning depression and cannabis use. Treatment completion, achieved by the majority (85%) of participants, was excellent. On average, participants reduced their past 30 day cannabis use from baseline (mean percentage of days using = 69%) to follow-up (M=44%) (t(22)= 2.3, p<0.05; Effect Size= 0.79). Concurrently, they evidenced reductions in depressive symptom severity, from the moderately severe range at baseline to the mild range at follow-up (t(24)=7.3, p<0.001; Effect Size=1.52). Addressing comorbid CUD and MDD using a computer-assisted, evidence-based treatment strategy is feasible in a psychiatric care setting, and may produce improvements in both depressive symptoms and cannabis use. DOI: 10.26828/cannabis.2018.02.004
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/231	Smith, E. Halle; McPhail, Abby; Lermas, Marcos; Pfund, Rory A. ; Whelan, James P. 	Expectations of How Acute Cannabis Use Affects Gambling Experiences and Behaviors	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 150-162	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/231/156	Emerging research shows that many individuals commonly consume cannabis while gambling. However, individuals’ expectations for how cannabis consumption will impact their gambling behavior remain unknown. Participants who gambled weekly (N = 472) were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and completed assessments of gambling behaviors, cannabis consumption, and expectations about the influence of cannabis on gambling. Almost all participants (94%) screened positive for problem gambling. Over half of participants (55%) reported lifetime cannabis consumption, and almost all those participants (99%) reported gambling under the influence of cannabis (GUIC) in the past month. Most participants agreed with positive expectations of gambling; they expected that they would feel calmer when under the influence of cannabis (61.4%), that gambling would be more enjoyable (61.0%), and that their gambling skills would increase when GUIC (60.6%). At the same time, most participants also agreed with negative expectations of GUIC. They expected cannabis use would make them more careless (56.4%), more anxious (54.8%), and less able to concentrate (53.7%) while gambling. Negative cannabis expectancies were significantly associated with the severity of cannabis consumption. Both positive and negative cannabis expectancies were significantly associated with gambling problems and time spent gambling under the influence of cannabis. These findings indicate that expectations may influence the decision to consume cannabis and gamble simultaneously. This study contributes to the need for addressing cannabis expectations during treatment of gambling problems.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/233	Appleseth, Hannah; Azizoddin, Desiree R.; Cohn, Amy M.	The Intersection of Rurality, Unmet Treatment Need, and Cannabis Use for Adults with Chronic Pain	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 8-20	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/233/170	Objective: Rates of chronic pain are higher among rural versus urban individuals and rural individuals experience higher levels of socioeconomic disadvantage, poor or no health insurance coverage, and unmet treatment need. Medical cannabis is legal in Oklahoma. With 40% of Oklahoma’s population living in rural areas, and nearly 17% uninsured, the medical legalization of cannabis may present as an accessible and relatively low-cost alternative treatment, particularly for those with chronic pain. This study investigated differences in cannabis use by rural (vs. urban) status and unmet (vs. met) treatment need among adults with and without chronic pain living in Oklahoma. Method: To be eligible, participants had to be 18 years or older, reside in Oklahoma, and be able to read and write English-language surveys. Results: The sample (N = 3622) was primarily made up of non-Hispanic White (70.4%) females (53.8%) in their early middle age (M = 41.80, SD = 16.88), employed full-time or part-time (53.8%), with some college/technical school (37.2%) or a bachelor’s degree (28.5%). Nearly one-fifth of the sample (18.2%) endorsed chronic pain, and individuals with chronic pain were eight times more likely to report past 30-day cannabis use. No difference was detected when only rurality (vs. urban residence) was examined. Among adults with chronic pain, those who were rural dwelling and who reported unmet treatment need were almost two times more likely to report past 30-day cannabis use, compared to urban dwelling chronic pain adults with unmet treatment need. Conclusions: In Oklahoma, adults in rural areas with unmet treatment need and chronic pain may benefit from increasing access to chronic pain treatment, as well as education on cannabis use and harm reduction strategies to inform healthcare decision-making. 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/234	Rhee, Joshua U.; Padon, Alisa A.; Silver, Lynn D.; Li, Lingling; Nguyen, Ethan N. K.; Paredes, Jacob; Timberlake, David S.	Age-Gating and Marketing Differences Between Storefront and Non-Storefront Cannabis Retailers	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 95-108	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/234/171	Objective: The study investigated whether California storefront and non-storefront cannabis retailers are adhering to online age-gating requirements and whether differences in website marketing practices exist. Methods: Websites of 134 storefront and 115 non-storefront licensed retailers were randomly selected. Bivariate associations were tested between retailer type and website marketing, age-gating methods, and presence of age-gating at various purchase stages. Results: Among the 200 (80.3%) websites with age-gating when entering, 182 (91%) employed an ineffective method where users click either “Yes” or “No” to confirm their age. Moreover, 49 (19.68%) websites lacked age-gating when entering. Amongst those requiring photo identification during checkout (n = 100, 40.16%), 97% allowed users to proceed after uploading an irrelevant image. Significantly more storefront retailers employed combined age-gating at entry, mandatory account registration, and age-gating during checkout than non-storefront retailers, X2 (1, N= 249) = 7.69, p < .01. Retailer websites frequently displayed “clean” labels (n = 200, 80.32%), followed by positive state claims (n= 198, 79.52%), physical health claims (n = 166, 66.67%), and mental health claims (n = 146, 58.63%). Significantly more storefront retailers displayed physical health claims, X2 (1, N = 249) = 7.52, p < .01, and health warnings than non-storefront retailers, X2 (1, N= 249) = 4.13, p = .04. Conclusions: Most cannabis retailers comply with age-gating requirements; however, methods employed are easily circumvented. Youths’ easy and unrestricted access to cannabis retailer websites may increase positive attitudes about cannabis and encourage use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/235	Trangenstein, Pamela J.; Greenfield, Thomas K.; Patterson, Deidre M. ; Kerr, William C. 	Measuring the Association Between Cannabis Dispensary Density and Adult Consumption in a Statewide Setting: Does Urbanicity Matter?	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 18-32	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/235/204	Objective: This study used data from early stages of non-medical cannabis legalization in Washington State to 1) Compare cannabis dispensary density measures by urbanicity, 2) Test if dispensary density was associated with cannabis use overall and by urbanicity. Method: Data are from the Privatization of Spirits in Washington Surveys (n = 2,162 adults) and licensing records. We graphed six cannabis dispensary density measures by urbanicity. Logistic regressions tested if dispensary density was associated with 1) cannabis use at least bimonthly and 2) daily/near-daily cannabis use after adjusting for urbanicity. Regressions stratified by urbanicity determined whether associations differed in urban vs. suburban/rural areas. Results: Crude counts and counts per population were higher in suburban/rural areas. Counts per land area, counts in a 3- to 5-mile buffer, proximity, and clustering detected greater densities in urban areas. Monthly/bimonthly cannabis use was associated with counts per buffer in the full sample (aOR = 1.08 [1.02, 1.14]) and urban areas (aOR = 1.08 [1.02, 1.14]). Clustering was associated with monthly/bimonthly use in suburban/rural areas (aOR = 7.85 [1.31, 47.17]). Daily/near-daily use was associated with proximity and clustering in the full sample (proximity: aOR = 0.78 [0.64, 0.97]; clustering: aOR = 2.44 [1.32, 4.51]), urban areas (proximity: aOR = 0.67 [0.49, 0.92]; clustering: aOR = 2.29 [1.22, 4.32]), and suburban/rural areas (proximity: aOR = 0.66 [0.45, 0.97]; clustering: aOR = 11.10 [1.55, 79.36]). Conclusions: In Washington’s early non-medical cannabis market, dispensary availability (counts) was associated with monthly/bimonthly use. Accessibility (proximity) and clustering were associated with daily/near-daily use. Dispensary density thresholds and minimum distances between dispensaries may reduce regular and frequent cannabis use in Washington.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/236	Romm, Katelyn; McDonald, Sunny; DiLissio, Emma; Dearfield, Craig; Berg, Carla	Disparities in Cannabis Use among Female and Male Sexual Minority Young Adults in the US: The Role of Parenting Behaviors	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 163-176	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/236/160	Introduction. Despite cannabis use disparities among sexual minority (SM; vs. heterosexual) young adults (SMYAs), little research has explored social influences contributing to these disparities. This study examined sexual identity subgroup differences in parenting behaviors and associations among parenting behaviors and cannabis use behaviors among YA subgroups. Methods. Participants were female (N=416; 44.7% bisexual, 7.2% lesbian) and male (N=228; 11.0% bisexual, 13.2% gay) YAs (ages 18-29) recruited via social media from 6 US cities. Bivariate analyses examined differences in perceived parenting (psychological control, behavioral control, knowledge, autonomy support, warmth, communication, cannabis disapproval), any past-month (current) cannabis use, and current cannabis use frequency across sexual identity subgroups. Multivariable regression examined associations among sexual identity and parenting behaviors with cannabis use outcomes. Results. Among female YAs, bisexual (vs. heterosexual) YAs had greater odds of cannabis use, reported more frequent use, and reported greater parental psychological control and less behavioral control, autonomy support, warmth, and communication; greater psychological control was associated with both outcomes; less autonomy support was associated with current use; and less warmth and communication were associated with use frequency. Among male YAs, gay and bisexual (vs. heterosexual) YAs had greater odds of current use and reported more frequent use and greater psychological control; gay (vs. heterosexual) YAs reported greater behavioral control and less autonomy support, warmth, and communication; and greater psychological control and less warmth and communication were associated with both outcomes. Conclusions. Cannabis prevention/cessation programs should target specific parenting behaviors that differentially impact cannabis use outcomes among specific SMYA subgroups.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/238	Sorkhou, Maryam; Johnstone, Samantha; Weinberger, Andrea H.; Cooper, Ziva D.; Sanches, Marcos; Castle, David J.; Hall, Wayne; Rabin, Rachel A.; Hammond, David; George, Tony P.	Changes in Cannabis Use Patterns in Psychiatric Populations Pre- and Post- Legalization of Recreational Cannabis Use in Canada: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 1-13	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/238/176	Objective: Since the federal Canadian government legalized cannabis in 2018, cannabis use in the general population has slightly increased. However, little is known about the impact of cannabis legalization on pattens of cannabis use in psychiatric populations. Method: We studied changes in daily/almost daily and average 30-day cannabis use amongst individuals currently using cannabis who reported past 12-month experiences of specific mental health disorders and among those without past 12-month experiences of any mental health disorder before and after Canadian legalization of recreational cannabis use (N = 13,527). Data came from Canadian respondents in Wave 1 (August–October 2018), Wave 2 (September–October 2019), and Wave 3 (September–November 2020) of the International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS). Results: After adjustment for covariates, among individuals currently using cannabis, the odds of using cannabis daily/almost daily increased only in individuals with schizophrenia between Wave 1 and Waves 3 (a OR = 9.19, 95% CI: 2.46 – 34.37). Similarly, significant increases in average 30-day cannabis use between Wave 1 (M = 12.80, SE = 1.65) and Wave 3 (M = 18.07, SE = 1.03) were observed only among individuals with schizophrenia, F (1,2) = 4.58, p < .05. No significant changes in daily/almost daily or average past 30-day cannabis use were observed in those without mental health problems or those reporting anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorders. Conclusions: Since legalization, cannabis use has significantly increased only among people with schizophrenia, highlighting the need for targeted public health prevention programs.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/239	Pearson, Blake; Walker, Mariah; Tempero, Jose; Ong, Kaye; Lucas, Philippe	Medical Cannabis for Patients Over Age 50: A Multi-site, Prospective Study of Patterns of Use and Health Outcomes	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 81-94	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/239/169	  Objective: Cannabis is being used as a therapeutic option by patients around the globe, and older patients represent a rapidly growing subset of this population. This study aims to assess the patterns of medical cannabis use in patients over 50 years of age and its effect on health outcomes such as pain, sleep, quality of life, and co-medication. Method: The Medical Cannabis in Older Patients Study (MCOPS) is a multi-site, prospective observational study examining the real-world impact of medical cannabis use on patients over age 50 under the guidance of a health care provider. The study included validated instruments, with treating physicians collecting detailed data on participant characteristics, medical cannabis and co-medication use, and associated impacts on pain, sleep, quality of life, as well as adverse events. Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 299 participants. Average age of participants was 66.7 years, and 66.2% of respondents identified as female. Approximately 90% of patients used medical cannabis to treat pain-related conditions such as chronic pain and arthritis. Almost all patients reported a preference for oral cannabis products (e.g., extracts, edibles) rather than inhalation products (e.g., flower, vapes), and most preferred oral formulations high in cannabidiol and low in tetrahydrocannabinol. Over the six-month study period, significant improvements were noted in pain, sleep, and quality of life measures, with 45% experiencing a clinically meaningful improvement in pain interference and in sleep quality scores. Additionally, nearly 50% of patients taking co-medications at baseline had reduced their use by the end of the study period, and quality of life improved significantly from baseline to M3 and from baseline to M6, with an incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of $25,357.20. No serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported. Conclusions: In this cohort of older patients, most of whom suffered from pain-related conditions, medical cannabis seemed to be a safe and effective treatment. Most patients experienced clinically significant improvements in pain, sleep, and quality of life and reductions in co-medication. The cost per QALY was well below the standard for traditional pharmaceuticals, and no SAEs were reported, suggesting that cannabis is a relatively safe and cost-effective therapeutic option for adults dealing with age-related health conditions.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/241	DeGrace, Sarah; Romero-Sanchiz, Pablo; Barrett, Sean; Tibbo, Phil G.; Cosman, Tessa; Atasoy, Pars; Stewart, Sherry H.	Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Moderate the Relationship Between Chronic Pain and Adverse Cannabis Outcomes: A Pilot Study	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 40-49	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/241/177	Objective: Increasingly, cannabis is being prescribed/used to help manage posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) or chronic pain, as cannabis has been argued to be beneficial for both types of symptoms. However, the evidence on efficacy is conflicting with evidence of risks mounting, leading some to caution against the use of cannabis for the management of PTSS and/or chronic pain. We examined the main and interactive effects of PTSS and chronic pain interference on adverse cannabis outcomes (a composite of cannabis use levels and cannabis use disorder, CUD, symptoms). We hypothesized that chronic pain interference and PTSS would each significantly predict adverse cannabis outcomes, and that chronic pain interference effects on adverse cannabis outcomes would be strongest among those with greater PTSS. Method: Forty-seven current cannabis users with trauma histories and chronic pain (34% male; mean age = 32.45 years) were assessed for current PTSS, daily chronic pain interference, past month cannabis use levels (grams), and CUD symptom count. Results: Moderator regression analyses demonstrated chronic pain interference significantly predicted the adverse cannabis outcomes composite, but only at high levels of PTSS. Conclusions: Cannabis users with trauma histories may be at greatest risk for heavier/more problematic cannabis use if they are experiencing both chronic pain interference and PTSS.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/242	Special Section Editor: Benjamin O. Ladd	Abstracts from the 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Marijuana: July 21–23, 2022	2023-11-28	Cannabis; Vol. 6 No. 2 (2023): Cannabis	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/242/124	none
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/243	Zylla, Dylan; Helen Parsons; Jeanette Ziegenfuss; Bruce Lindgren; Susan Park; Patricia Jewett; Arjun Gupta; Anne Blaes	Association of Financial Wellness with Patterns of Medical Cannabis Use and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Cancer	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 139-149	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/243/180	Objective: Despite increasing use of medical cannabis to manage cancer-related symptoms, U.S. payers do not reimburse medical cannabis, leaving patients responsible for all associated costs. We assessed how self-reported financial well-being is associated with patterns of cannabis consumption, out-of-pocket costs, and impact on symptoms in patients with cancer. Method: From December 2021 to January 2022, we surveyed patients with cancer enrolled in the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program. The mailed survey included cancer history, cannabis use history, symptom changes and sociodemographic questions including income and perceived financial wellness. We conducted descriptive analyses. Results: Of 797 eligible adults, 220 (28%) responded to the survey. Two hundred eleven answered a question about current household income as living comfortably (LC, 45%; n = 95) or not living comfortably (NLC, 55%; n = 116). The NLC group reported lower incomes (47% vs 8% with annual incomes <$50,000) and were typically younger, unmarried, unemployed, or disabled. NLC group purchased more vaporizers (48% vs 27%), used products high in THC (92% vs 82%), and reported higher cannabis costs (40% vs 21% spending $200+/month). The NLC group more often stopped or used cannabis less frequently than they would like (54% versus 32%), frequently citing costs as a reason (85% vs 39%). Both NLC and LC groups typically used cannabis daily and reported a high degree of symptom improvement. Conclusions: Patients with cancer using cannabis report significant improvements in cancer-related symptoms. High out-of-pocket costs for cannabis may be especially burdensome among those already financially struggling, raising questions about affordability of and equitable access to this therapy.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/247	McGrath, Daniel ; Williams, Robert; Allami, Youssef ; Christensen, Darren; Hodgins, David; Nicoll, Fiona; Shaw, Carrie; Stevens, Rhys	Predictors of Change in Cannabis Use Status from Pre- to Post-Recreational Cannabis Legalization in Canada: Evidence from a Two-Wave Longitudinal National Survey	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 14-29	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/247/191	Objective: In October 2018, the Government of Canada legalized cannabis for recreational use nationwide. The effects of legalization on cannabis use have been primarily assessed through cross-sectional surveys. Method: In the present study, a two-wave longitudinal design was used to explore potential demographic, substance use and behavioral addiction, and mental health predictors of change in cannabis use status following legalization. Canadian online panelists (18+) were initially surveyed about their gambling and substance use in 2018 (i.e., before cannabis legalization). From the original sample, 4,707 (46.2%) were retained in the follow-up survey one year later, post-cannabis legalization. These respondents were the focus of the present study. Results: When queried about how legalization would impact their use, 61.8% said, ‘I’ll never use it’, 21.1% stated ‘I’ll use it about the same as I do now’, 10.3% indicated ‘I may try it for the first time’, 5.0% answered ‘I’ll use it more’, and 1.9% responded that ‘I’ll use it less’. Consistent with these sentiments, within the retained sample there was a modest but significant increase in cannabis use from baseline (18.4%) to follow-up (26.1%). Regressions established that younger age, being male, substance use, tobacco or e-cigarette use, problematic gambling, and stated intention to use cannabis were predictors of later cannabis use. Conclusions: This national cohort design indicates that cannabis use appears to have increased in Canada following legalization. The present study makes a unique contribution by also identifying variables that statistically forecast movement toward and away from cannabis use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/248	Milad, Nadia; Belisario, Kyla; MacKillop, James; Hirota, Jeremy A	Dried Cannabis Use, Tobacco Smoking, and COVID-19 Infection: Findings from a Longitudinal Observational Cohort Study	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 177-192	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/248/174	Objective: The potential impact of cigarette and cannabis smoking on COVID-19 infection outcomes is not well understood. We investigated the association between combustible tobacco use and dried cannabis use with COVID-19 infection in a longitudinal cohort of community adults. Method: The sample comprised 1,343 participants, originally enrolled in 2018, who reported their cigarette and cannabis use in 11 assessments over 44 months, until 2022. COVID-19 infection history were self-reported after the onset of the pandemic. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. The potentially confounding factor of vaccination status was also considered by stratifying data by booster vaccination self-reporting. Results: Among 1,343 participants, 820 (61.1%) reported any COVID-19 infection. Dried cannabis use (46.3% of participants, n = 721) was associated with higher self-reporting of 2+ COVID-19 infections (13.3% vs. 7.3% in non-users, p = .0004), while tobacco use (18.5% of participants, n = 248) had no significant effect (13.3% vs. 10.0% in no use group, p = .116). When stratified into single or dual substance use groups, dried cannabis-only use was associated with increased reporting of 1 or 2+ COVID-19 infections compared to substance non-users, while tobacco-only use and dual use groups were not significantly different from non-users. To account for differences in vaccination rates between substance use groups, we found that, among individuals with a COVID-19 booster vaccine, dried cannabis use was still associated with increased reporting of 2+ COVID-19 infections (p = .008). Conclusions: Our study suggests that dried cannabis use is associated with a higher likelihood of reporting 2+ COVID-19 infections. Although the study was observational and relied on self-report infection status, our findings support the need for further investigation into the impact of cannabis use on COVID-19 infection, particularly studies employing controlled experimental designs.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/24	Brown, Whitney C.; Testa, Maria; Wang, Weijun	Alcohol and Marijuana use in Undergraduate Males: Between- and Within-Person Associations with Interpersonal Conflict	2018-07-07	Cannabis; Vol. 1 No. 2 (2018): Cannabis; 48-59	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/cannabis.2018.02.005/12	Among college students, interpersonal conflict with others is a common, yet stressful negative interpersonal experience. Research suggests that drinking episodes may contribute to the occurrence of conflict. Marijuana use, independently or in conjunction with alcohol, may also influence the likelihood of subsequent conflict. We considered the temporal effects of independent and simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use episodes on the occurrence of interpersonal conflict. Use of multilevel modeling allowed us to distinguish the within-person effects of substance use from between-person differences in frequency of use. Within a sample of 427 college freshman males over 56 days of daily reports, we examined the independent and interactive effects of episodes of alcohol and marijuana on the odds of conflict within the next 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4 hours. Multilevel modeling analyses showed that drinking episodes increased the likelihood of conflict occurring within the next 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4 hours. Marijuana had weaker positive effects, significant only within the 2-hour window. There were no alcohol by marijuana interaction effects in any analysis. Both marijuana and alcohol independently increased the likelihood of interpersonal conflict; however, the marijuana effect appeared less robust. As marijuana use becomes more normative and accessible for college students, it is important to understand the extent to which marijuana use results in negative consequences and the contexts under which these effects unfold. DOI: 10.26828/cannabis.2018.02.005 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/255	Zaslawski, Zina; Golden-Plotnik, Stevi; Steer, Jessica; Warda, Lynne; Kelly, Lauren E.	Exploring Cannabis-Associated Presentations to Canadian Pediatric Emergency Departments: A Cross-Sectional Study	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 30-40	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/255/184	Objective: Recent studies found that recreational legalization of cannabis consumption for Canadian adults has increased presentation to the emergency department (ED) among children. In this descriptive study, our objectives were to (1) understand Canadian pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) providers’ training and knowledge of clinical presentations associated with cannabis exposure in children and (2) describe pediatric ED presentations related to cannabis exposure across Canada following legalization in 2018. Method: In 2021, following ethics board approval, 230 Pediatric Emergency Research Canada (PERC) network pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians were invited to share about their knowledge, training, and experience with patients presenting with cannabis-associated emergencies using an anonymized survey administered through REDCap. Results: In total, 84/230 (36.5%) invited physicians completed the survey. Almost 70% of the PEM physicians reported an increase in the number of cannabis-associated ED presentations they have seen since legalization, while only 15% reported no increase in presentations. More than 90% of the respondents reported an average or higher level of knowledge of cannabis-associated pediatric emergencies. More than half (n = 48, 57%) were interested in pursuing further training, preferring formal training opportunities. The main presentations to the ED were decreased level of consciousness, known unintentional (accidental) ingestion and vomiting. Significantly more tests were ordered when cannabis consumption was unknown at the beginning of the assessment, compared to when it was known, however, treatment plans were the same (mainly supportive measures). Conclusions: Most PEM providers are managing an increasing number of cannabis-associated ED presentations. PEM providers should improve communication with caregivers around household cannabis use. When caregivers feel comfortable disclosing cannabis presence at home, it can help prevent unnecessary tests and interventions for their children if they present to the ED.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/256	Vieira, Jenna; Coelho, Sophie; Snaychuk, Lindsey; Tabri, Nassim; Dawson, Samantha; Hodgins, David; Keough, Matthew; Shead, Will; Kim, Andrew (Hyounsoo)	Mental Health and Dispositional Predictors of Simultaneous Versus Concurrent Cannabis and Alcohol Use in a Canadian Context	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 41-60	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/256/182	Objective: Cannabis has become more available in Canada since its legalization in 2018. Many individuals who use cannabis also use alcohol (co-use), which can be used either at the same time such that their effects overlap (simultaneous use) or at different times (concurrent use). Though studies have identified predictors of co-use relative to single-substance use, less is known about the predictors of specific types of co-use. The present study examined the mental health and dispositional predictors of simultaneous relative to concurrent use of the two legal substances (cannabis and alcohol) among adults in Canada. Method: Canadian adults reporting past-year use of both cannabis and alcohol (N = 1,761) were recruited from Academic Prolific and six Canadian universities. Participants completed online self-report measures of demographic characteristics, cannabis and alcohol co-use, mental health symptoms, impulsivity, and personality traits. Results: Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that when independent variables were each examined individually, greater severity of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD symptoms; greater negative urgency and lack of premeditation; and greater impulsivity each predicted an increased likelihood of reporting past-year simultaneous use relative to concurrent use. When independent variables were grouped into three separate models (mental health, impulsivity, and personality variables), greater anxiety symptom severity, ADHD symptom severity, negative urgency, and sensation seeking were each uniquely associated with an increased likelihood of simultaneous relative to concurrent use. Conclusions:Individuals with elevated anxiety and ADHD symptoms, as well as negative urgency and sensation seeking, may be more inclined to engage in simultaneous use to self-medicate and achieve greater symptom reduction. Future studies may examine the directionality of these relations and motives (e.g., coping) that may differentiate simultaneous and concurrent use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/258	Thiessen, Karina; Schütz, Christian	Examining the Relationship Between Cannabis Use and Mood, Anxiety, and Psychotic Symptoms in Psychiatric Patients with Severe Concurrent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Before and After Recreational Cannabis Legalization in Canada	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 90-105	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/258/192	Objective: The relationship between cannabis use and mental health has garnered significant attention in recent decades. However, studies have largely been in general populations or in countries in which recreational cannabis use is illegal. Method: The current cross-sectional study examines the relationship between cannabis use, mood disorders, anxiety, and psychosis in an inpatient psychiatric population with severe concurrent mental health and substance use disorders, exploring the potential moderating effect of the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada. Results: Cannabis use compared to non-use was associated with higher self-reported depression, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms but was not associated with diagnosis of a mood, anxiety, or psychotic disorder. Frequency of cannabis use was unrelated to mental health outcomes, but age of first use was negatively associated with self-reported psychoticism symptoms. There were some significant associations between recreational cannabis legalization and mental health, but legalization was largely unrelated to outcomes. There were also some significant differences by demographics. Conclusions: While findings are relatively consistent with prior literature, some significant associations differed, suggesting the importance of examining concurrent disorder patients as a unique population when examining relationships between cannabis use and mental health.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/259	Giangregorio , Aidan ; Wang, Li; Sprague, Sheila; Arbus, Michelle; Busse, Jason	Predictors of Response to Medical Cannabis for Chronic Pain: A Retrospective Review of Real-Time Observational Data	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 167-176	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/259/196	Objective: People living with chronic pain increasingly use medical cannabis for symptom relief. We conducted a retrospective cohort study examining cannabis for chronic pain relief using anonymous archival data obtained from the medicinal cannabis tracking app, Strainprint®. Method: We acquired cannabis utilization data from 741 adults with chronic pain and used multilevel modeling to examine the association of age, sex, type of pain (muscle, joint or nerve pain), cannabis formulation (high CBD, balanced CBD:THC, or high THC), route of administration (inhaled or ingested), cannabis use before vs. during the COVID-19 pandemic, and duration of cannabis use, with pain relief. Results: Most patients were female (n = 464; 63%), with a mean age of 39 (SD = 11), and our cohort had completed a total of 83,622 tracked cannabis sessions through Strainprint. The majority of sessions reported use of inhaled cannabis products (78%), typically with high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; 64%) versus high cannabidiol (CBD; 15%) or balanced THC:CBD (21%) products. The median change in pain scores across sessions was -3.0 points on a 10-point numeric rating scale (NRS; IQR -4.5 to -2.0). In our adjusted model, greater pain relief was associated with male vs. female sex (-0.69 points on a 10-point NRS; 95%CI -0.46 to -0.91). We found statistically significant, but trivial associations with joint pain (-0.05 points), balanced THC:CBD products in the long term (-0.003 points), and cannabis use during the pandemic (0.18 points). Conclusions: We found that people living with chronic pain report important pain relief when using cannabis for medical purposes, and that men may achieve greater pain relief than women.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/25	Cuttler, Carrie; Sexton, Michelle; Mischley, Laurie K.	Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis: An Examination of Driving Beliefs and Practices of Medical and Recreational Cannabis Users Across the United States	2018-07-07	Cannabis; Vol. 1 No. 2 (2018): Cannabis; 1-13	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/cannabis.2018.02.001/8	Trends toward the legalization of cannabis are raising concerns about driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC). The goal of this study was to examine the percentage of cannabis users who believe DUIC is safe, who drive within one hour of using cannabis, and who have experienced a DUIC-related incident (i.e., ticket/accident). We further sought to compare these percentages in exclusively medical versus exclusively recreational versus mixed cannabis users and in participants surveyed before versus after legal sales of recreational cannabis. Finally, we examined predictors of DUIC beliefs, practices, and incidents. An anonymous online survey was administered to cannabis users across the 50 United States (N=1773; 54% Male) to assess DUIC beliefs, practices, and incidents. 52.4% reported believing DUIC is safe, 52.1% admitted to driving within one hour of using cannabis, but only 3.9% reported experiencing a DUIC-related incident. No significant differences were found in exclusively medical, exclusively recreational, and mixed cannabis users or in WA respondents surveyed before- and after-legal sales in WA state. Older age, less education, higher frequency and quantities of use, and driving within one hour of use predicted beliefs DUIC is safe. Younger age, more education, higher frequency and quantities of use, younger age of first use, and beliefs DUIC is safe predicted driving within one hour of using cannabis. Male gender, lower income, and higher frequency of use predicted DUIC-related incidents. Rates of DUIC are high among cannabis users but self-reported accidents/tickets are low. Recreational cannabis sales do not appear to be exacerbating these rates. DOI: 10.26828/cannabis.2018.02.001 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/260	Britton, Emily M.; Taisir, Radia; Cooper, Alysha; Li, Yao; Sousa, Sarah; Chorny, Yelena; MacKillop, James; Costello, Mary Jean	Examining the Potential Impact of Recreational Cannabis Legalization on Individuals Receiving Treatment for Substance Use Disorder: An Interrupted Time Series Study in Guelph, Ontario, Canada	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 74-89	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/260/183	Objective: The present research evaluated the impact of legalizing recreational cannabis among individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) who may already use cannabis at high rates. Methods: Using an interrupted time series study design, we evaluated the potential impact of legalization among individuals seeking treatment for SUD within a hospital-based treatment setting in Guelph, Ontario. We examined 2,925 individuals who entered the treatment program between April 2017 and December 2021. We performed segmented regression analyses using both the date of cannabis legalization and the date of edibles legalization as the interruption time point. We also performed stratified analyses to examine potential sex differences. Results: We found no significant changes in the prevalence of cannabis use or readiness to quit using cannabis following legalization with either of the interruption time points. However, there was evidence of increasing CUD severity post-edibles legalization. Stratified analyses also suggested possible sex differences in readiness to quit over time. Conclusions: Results point to some small but potentially important impacts of recreational cannabis legalization among individuals with SUD that may only continue with time. Nevertheless, there is a need to continue to monitor cannabis use trends to understand any potential lagged effects.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/261	McDonald, André J. ; Cooper, Alysha; Doggett, Amanda; Belisario, Kyla; MacKillop, James	Legal Recreational Cannabis Sales and Opioid-Related Mortality in the 5 Years Following Cannabis Legalization in Canada: A Granger Causality Analysis	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 106-119	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/261/188	Objective: Little is known about the population-level impact of recreational cannabis legalization on trends in opioid-related mortality. Increased access to cannabis due to legalization has been hypothesized to reduce opioid-related deaths because of the potential opioid-sparing effects of cannabis. The objective of this study was to examine the relations between national retail sales of recreational (non-medical) cannabis and opioid overdose deaths in the 5 years following legalization in Canada. Method: Using time-series data, we applied Granger causality methods to evaluate the association between trends in legal recreational cannabis sales and opioid-related deaths over time. Both sales and opioid deaths grew over time, with the latter exhibiting significant increases following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: We found no support for the hypothesis that increasing post-legalization sales Granger caused changes in opioid-related deaths in British Columbia, Ontario, or at the national level. Conclusions: These findings suggest that increases in legal recreational cannabis sales following legalization were not meaningfully associated with changes in opioid-related mortality. Further examination with longer follow-up periods will be needed as the legal cannabis market becomes more entrenched in Canada, but these findings converge with previous work suggesting legalization is not related to opioid overdose mortality and further undermine that hypothesized link as a basis for legalization in other jurisdictions.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/262	DeGrace, Sarah; Tibbo, Phillip G.; Pilin, Maya A.; Krank, Marvin D.; O'Connor, Roisin; Wardell, Jeffrey; Keough, Matthew T.; Snooks, Thomas; Trottier, Sarah-Jeanne; Stewart, Sherry H.	Expressive Writing About One's Trauma Increases Accessibility of Cannabis Information in Memory among Cannabis Users with Trauma Histories	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 61-73	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/262/187	Objective: Trauma survivors are more likely than others to use cannabis, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly co-occurs with cannabis use disorder (CUD). Automatic memory associations between trauma reminders and cannabis use have been suggested as contributing mechanisms. These associations can be studied experimentally by manipulating trauma cue exposure in a cue-reactivity paradigm (CRP) and examining effects on the accessibility of cannabis information in memory in trauma survivors with and without PTSD. Method: Cannabis users with trauma histories (N = 202) completed a PTSD measure (PTSD Checklist-5) and were randomized to a trauma or neutral expressive writing task as an online CRP. Next, participants completed a cue-behavior word association task, which involved presentation of a series of ambiguous cue words to which participants provided the first word that came to mind. Some of these ambiguous cues pertained to cannabis (e.g., weed, pot) and some to other substances (e.g., blow, shot). This task was scored by two independent raters. Linear regression models tested the hypothesized main and interactive effects of CRP condition (trauma, neutral) and PTSD group (probable PTSD, no PTSD) on the number of cannabis and other substance responses generated. Results: Main effects of CRP condition were found for cannabis responses (b = 0.41, p = .048; trauma > neutral) but not other substance responses. Unexpectedly, no main effects or interactions of PTSD group were observed for either outcome. Conclusions: In cannabis users with trauma histories, writing about one’s trauma specifically activates greater accessibility of cannabis-related information in memory, regardless of PTSD.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/263	De Clifford-Faugère, Gwenaelle; Angarita-Fonseca, Adriana ; Nguena Nguefack, Hermine Lore ; Godbout-Parent, Marimée ; Audet, Claudie; Lacasse, Anais	Perceived Risk of Medical Cannabis and Prescribed Cannabinoids for Chronic Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Quebec Clinicians	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 120-133	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/263/195	Objective: An increase in medical cannabis and prescribed cannabinoids use for chronic pain management has been observed in Canada in the past years. This study aimed to: 1) Describe clinicians’ perceived risk associated with the use of medical cannabis and prescribed cannabinoids for the management of chronic pain; and 2) Identify sociodemographic and professional factors associated with perceived risk of adverse effects. Method: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Quebec, Canada in 2022. A convenience sample of 207 clinicians was recruited (physicians/pharmacists/nurse practitioners). They were asked to rate the risk of adverse effects associated with medical cannabis (e.g., smoke, or oil) and prescribed cannabinoids (e.g., nabilone) on a scale of 0 to 10 (0: no risk, 10: very high risk), respectively. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify factors associated with perceived risk. Results: Average perceived risk associated with medical cannabis and prescribed cannabinoids were 5.93 ± 2.08 (median:6/10) and 5.76 ± 1.81 (median:6/10). Factors associated with higher medical cannabis perceived risk were working in primary care (β = 1.38, p = .0034) or in another care setting (β = 1.21, p = .0368) as compared to a hospital setting. As for prescribed cannabinoids, being a pharmacist (β = 1.14, p = .0452), working in a primary care setting (β = 0.83, p = .0408) and reporting more continuing education about chronic pain (β = 0.02, p = .0416) were associated with higher perceived risk. No sex differences were found in terms of perceived risk. Conclusions: Considering the clinician’s experience provide insights on cannabis risk as these professionals are at the forefront of patient care when they encounter adverse effects.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/268	Steuart, Shelby; Lozano-Rojas, Felipe; Bethel, Victoria; Shone, Hailemichael; Abraham, Amanda	Recreational Cannabis Laws and Fills of Pain Prescriptions in the Privately Insured	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 121-138	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/268/181	Objective: Almost half of U.S. states have passed recreational cannabis laws as of May 2024. While considerable evidence to date indicates cannabis may be a substitute for prescription opioids in the treatment of pain, it remains unclear if patients are treating pain with cannabis alone or concomitantly with other medications. Method: Using data from a national sample of commercially insured adults, we examine the effect of recreational cannabis legalization (through two sequential policies) on prescribing of opioids, NSAIDS, and other pain medications by implementing synthetic control estimations and constructing case-study level counterfactuals for the years 2007-2020. Results: Overall, we find recreational cannabis legalization is associated with a decrease in opioid fills among commercially insured adults in the U.S., and we find evidence of a compositional change in prescriptions of pain medications more broadly. Specifically, we find marginally significant increases in prescribing of non-opioid pain medications after recreational cannabis becomes legal in some states. Once recreational cannabis dispensaries open, we find statistically significant decreases in the rate of opioid prescriptions (13% reduction from baseline, p < .05) and marginally significant decreases in the average daily supply of opioids (6.3% decrease, p < .10) and number of opioid prescriptions per patient (3.5% decrease, p < .10). Conclusions: These results suggest that substitution of cannabis for traditional pain medications increases as the availability of recreational cannabis increases. There appears to be a small shift once recreational cannabis becomes legal, but we see stronger results once users can purchase cannabis at recreational dispensaries. The decrease in opioids and marginal increase in non-opioid pain medication may reflect patients substituting opioids with cannabis and non-opioid pain medications, either separately or concomitantly. Reductions in opioid prescription fills stemming from recreational cannabis legalization may prevent exposure to opioids in patients with pain and lead to decreases in the number of new opioid users, rates of opioid use disorder, and related harms.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/269	Wrona, Aleksandra; Justice, Amy C.; Tate, Janet P.; Rentsch, Christopher T. ; Gordon, Kirsha S. ; Kidwai-Khan, Farah; Silverberg, Michael J.; Satre, Derek; Marconi, Vincent C.; Ingle, Suzanne M.; Sterne, Jonathan; Cavassini, Matthias; Bryant, Kendall; McGinnis, Kathleen	Cannabis Use and Self-Reported Bothersome Symptoms in People with HIV 	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 177-190	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/269/203	Objective: While cannabis use is common among people with HIV (PWH), there have been few studies examining the association of use with health outcomes among PWH. We aimed to evaluate the association between cannabis use and bothersome physical and mental health symptoms using both self-report and a direct biomarker for cannabis use. Method: The Medications, Alcohol and Substance use in HIV Study (MASH) is a cross-cohort study focused on polypharmacy and substance use among PWH. Participants were enrolled from October 2018 to May 2022 in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS), Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) HIV Cohort, and 7 sites (Atlanta, GA; Bronx, NY; Washington, DC; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; and Nashville, TN) in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study - HIV (VACS-HIV). Participants submitted self-reported information on the presence/absence of symptoms in the prior 4 weeks, along with bothersome level, using the HIV Symptom Index, which is comprised of 20 symptoms commonly reported in PWH, including fatigue, diarrhea, fever, anxiety, and weight loss, among others. Concurrent self-reported substance use information was also collected, and participants provided nail clippings to be tested for cannabis use. We used logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and cohort, to examine associations of self-report and biomarker-identified cannabis use with self-reported bothersome symptoms. Results: The analytic sample included 1,226 PWH who were predominantly male (85%), non-white (64%), with an average age of 57 years; 20% tested positive for cannabis use, and 23% reported recent cannabis use. Agreement between self-report and biomarker cannabis use was substantial (agreement 89%, kappa = 0.67). Put together, 27% either reported cannabis use or tested positive. Of the 20 symptoms included in the HIV Symptom Index, 19 were more prevalent at a bothersome level among those with cannabis use compared to those without. In adjusted models, the patterns of association remained for both self-reported and biomarker-confirmed cannabis use, and they were particularly substantial for memory, depression, anxiety, and nausea. Conclusions: Cannabis use was common among PWH and was associated with a number of bothersome symptoms. While cannabis use may be used to treat loss of appetite, nausea/vomiting, and weight loss, the associations of cannabis use with depression, anxiety, and memory loss are concerning and deserve investigation.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/271	Froude, Anna Marie; Pangborn, Nikki; Britz-McKibbin, Philip; MacKillop, James; Balodis, Iris	Potential Risks from Cannabis-Infused Beverages: A Critical Review	2025-01-16	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024): Special Issue: Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period; 134-166	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/271/186	Although Canada legalized cannabis beverages in 2019, most available research on acute cannabis intoxication derives from dried flower and edible products. The distinct bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties of phytocannabinoids ingested from beverages, however, contribute to significantly different acute and long-term effects that need to be better understood to ensure consumer safety. Objective: This review investigates existing cannabis beverage literature, with a particular focus on acute intoxication effects. Method: PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases were systematically searched. A structured search generated 29 eligible studies, comprising studies of consumption patterns and beliefs, advertisements and marketing, acute effects in human models, and drink composition. Results: Human studies report aversive acute subjective and physiological effects induced by cannabis beverages in healthy, infrequent users. Beverages also showed inaccurate cannabinoid labeling, posing potential risks to consumers. This review highlights the paucity and inconsistency of available research, further exacerbated by the sheer diversity of formulations investigated, while beginning to address some questions surrounding the safety and risks associated with cannabis beverages. Conclusions: Given the extensive differences in effects across cannabis-infused beverages, and the growing ‘drinkables’ market, it is essential that more studies directly examine both acute and long-term impacts of cannabis beverage consumption.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/273	Ehlke, Sarah J.; Fitzer, Samantha A.; Rigney, Kendra N.	Exploring Differences in Cannabis Use and Harm Perceptions Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Females: A Brief Report	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 1-7	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/273/199	Objective: Sexual minority women (SMW) have higher rates of cannabis use compared to heterosexual women, which may be partially attributed to lower harm perceptions. However, no study has examined if the association between harm perceptions and cannabis use is stronger for SMW than heterosexual women. This study examined if sexual identity (SMW vs. heterosexual woman) moderated the association between harm perceptions and past 30-day cannabis use among a sample of female young adults (18-25 years old). Method: Participants were 949 (29.8% SMW; Mean age = 24.33; 92.1% non-Hispanic White) females (99.3% cisgender) recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk who reported weekly cannabis use. Participants reported how many days they used cannabis in the past 30-days and how harmful they perceived cannabis to be to their health (not at all/slightly/somewhat harmful vs. very/extremely harmful). An Analysis of Covariance examined the study aim. Results: A significantly larger percentage of heterosexual women perceived cannabis to be very/extremely harmful to their health than SMW (45.2% vs. 22.6%). Those who perceived cannabis to be very/extremely harmful reported more frequent cannabis use in the past-30 days. SMW who perceived cannabis to be very/extremely harmful reported more frequent cannabis use relative to those who held lower harm perceptions; there were no significant differences for heterosexual women. Conclusions: SMW may perceive cannabis as harmful because they may be experiencing health consequences from frequent use. It may be important for interventions and public health campaigns to be tailored specifically to SMW and include information about the potential harms of cannabis use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/275	Chang, Yi-Chun; Rubey, Robin; Ladd, Benjamin	Acute Stress Effect on Delay Discounting and Cannabis Demand Among Individuals Endorsing High-Frequency Cannabis Use	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 21-39	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/275/185	Objective: Limited research examines the effect of stress on behavioral economic constructs among individuals using cannabis. This study examined whether the effects of acute stress on delay discounting differed in terms of cannabis use status and whether cannabis demand changed after stress induction. Method: Participants were two groups (n = 39 endorsing high-frequency cannabis use and n = 48 not endorsing cannabis use) of young adults (75.86% female, 67.82% White, Mage = 21.64 years). During an online Zoom session, participants completed a prestress assessment, the Trier Mental Challenge Test (TMCT) stress induction, and then a poststress assessment. Results: Subjective stress increased significantly across groups after stress induction (p < .001, Æžp2 = .23); no group X time interaction was observed. There were no differences in delay discounting across time or groups. For the use group only, cannabis demand intensity (p = .006, d = .50), but not other demand indices, significantly increased following the acute stress induction. Coping motives did not moderate the association between the change in subjective stress and the change in delay discounting or the change in any cannabis demand indices among the use group. Conclusions: Cannabis demand might exert a more influential role than delay discounting in shaping decisions related to cannabis use while experiencing acute stress. However, the practical implications of this finding warrant further research due to the relatively small difference in hypothetical cannabis use observed. Study design limitations that could impact the findings or lead to null results are discussed to inform future research.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/277	Romm, Katelyn F.; Mermelstein, Robin; Vandrey, Ryan; Hedeker, Donald; Cohn, Amy M.	Daily Assessment of Positive and Negative Cannabis Use Expectancies in Young Adult Cannabis and Tobacco Co-Users: Differences by Sociodemographics, Mental Health Symptoms, and Possible Cannabis Use Disorder	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 85-97	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/277/208	Objective: Expectancies play a critical role in cannabis use behavior and are influenced by sociodemographic and intrapersonal factors. This study examined daily endorsement of positive and negative cannabis use expectancies using 28 days of ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) in relation to sociodemographics, mental health symptoms, and cannabis use disorder (CUD) among young adult cannabis-tobacco co-users. Method: Ninety-seven young adult (ages 18-24) cannabis and tobacco co-users reported on anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and possible CUD at baseline. During the 28 days of EMAs, participants reported on 16 positive (n = 7) and negative (n = 9) cannabis use expectancies they anticipated would occur in the next 24 hours. Descriptive statistics examined the proportion of EMA days each expectancy was endorsed. Multivariable logistic regressions examined associations of expectancies with anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and possible CUD, controlling for sociodemographics. Results: The most frequently endorsed expectancies were positive (e.g., feeling good, getting along with others), while the least frequently endorsed were negative (e.g., drinking too much, having an argument). In regression models, participants endorsing more days of expecting to feel anxious displayed higher odds of anxiety and depressive symptoms; those endorsing more days of expecting to be in a bad mood displayed higher odds of depressive symptoms; those endorsing more days of expecting to feel tired or unmotivated displayed higher odds of possible CUD. Conclusions: Expectancies of cannabis benefits and consequences are heterogeneous, endorsed in different frequencies across days, and they may have important implications for mental health symptoms and cannabis use severity among young adults who co-use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/27	Pedersen, Eric R.; Zander-Cotugno, Megan; Shih, Regina A.; Tucker, Joan S.; Dunbar, Michael S.; D'Amico, Elizabeth J.	Online Methods for Locating Medical Marijuana Dispensaries: Practical Considerations for Future Research: Locating Marijuana Dispensaries	2018-07-07	Cannabis; Vol. 1 No. 2 (2018): Cannabis; 22-35	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/cannabis.2018.02.003/10	Knowing the names, locations, and signage of medical marijuana dispensaries is critical for assessing how marijuana availability affects neighborhood quality and marijuana use, yet no detailed methods for locating and coding dispensaries are published. Limitations regarding accuracy of official records, unregulated businesses, and the size of areas where dispensaries are located make it difficult to accurately capture all open dispensaries in any area. In this study, we test a practical and feasible method to collect a point-in-time portrayal of medical marijuana dispensaries in a large urban area lacking an official record of these businesses. Using publicly-available Internet sources alone, we collected the name, address, phone number, signage, and open/closed status of medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles County between October 2016 and February 2017. Data were verified by calling a subset of dispensaries and comparing data against a list of licensed dispensaries. Our methods yielded 872 unique dispensaries in Los Angeles County, of which 470 were open. Most open stores were discernable by a green cross sign; however, few had names that clearly indicated the store sold marijuana. Data verification procedures showed that Internet sources were able to locate nearly all dispensaries in the county that were then verified with non-Internet methods, such as calling the businesses to confirm information. This study is significant as it provides methodology that can be replicated in other metropolitan areas, facilitating comparisons across databases in different locations and regulatory environments. However, caution should be taken when solely using Internet sources. Accurate information on dispensary names, locations, and signage can advance research and provide important information for policy decisions. Methods for enhancing the online methods described in this study are discussed. DOI: 10.26828/cannabis.2018.02.003 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/285	Habib, Mohammad I.; Budney, Alan J.; Struble, Cara A.; Hasin, Deborah S.; Livne, Ofir; Aharonovich, Efrat; Wisell, Caroline; Fragione, Sara N.; Borodovsky, Jacob T.	Estimating Cannabis Consumption in Milligrams of THC From Self-Reported Hit Size	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 153-163	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/285/214	Objective: Estimating delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (mgTHC) using hits involves converting hits to grams via a grams-per-hit ratio (GPHR). Previous studies assumed a single hit size (SHS), ignoring individual hit size variations. This study investigates a multiple qualitative hit size (MQHS) approach based on self-reported hit sizes (small, medium, large) to improve mgTHC estimates. Method: Adults (N = 1,824) who used cannabis in the past week completed an online survey on cannabis consumption, reporting quantities in hits and grams, and estimating their hit sizes. We calculated mgTHC using both SHS (0.06g/hit for flower, 0.012g/hit for concentrate) and MQHS. For the MQHS approach, we calculated median GPHRs for each hit size group and assigned those medians to individuals within that group. Results: For flower, median GPHR increased with hit size (small: 0.042, medium: 0.062, large: 0.093). The MQHS estimate for mgTHC from flower was higher than SHS for large hits (95% CI:[12.4, 50.0]) but showed no difference for medium or small hits (95% CI: [-3.2, 8.1]; 95%CI: [-27.6, 3.4]). For concentrate, median GPHR was similar for small and medium hits but lower than large hits (small: 0.024, medium: 0.025, large: 0.035). MQHS estimates for mgTHC were higher than SHS for all hit sizes (95% CI: [46.3, 86.3]; 95% CI: [24.8, 45.5]; 95% CI: [11.5, 36.5] for large, medium, small hits, respectively). Conclusions: The MQHS estimates captures hit size variability for flower. The floor effect with median GPHRs for concentrates suggests further investigation is needed for MQHS estimates with concentrates. The MQHS approach illustrates a method to develop new standard GPHRs for each qualitative hit size group, after further investigation.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/286	McNamara, Ian A.; Parnes, Jamie E.; Stetsiv, Khrystyna; Nance, Melissa; Sauer, Jake; Greenwood, Kayleigh ; Masters, Joan P.; Carpenter, Ryan W.	Missouri College Students' Intentions Towards Initiating or Changing Cannabis Use in a Shifting Legal Landscape	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 33-50	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/286/210	Background: With cannabis legal in nearly half of U.S. states, important concerns about the public health impact remain, particularly for states yet to legalize. The present study, using data collected in the initial phase of cannabis legalization in Missouri, examined predictors of the intention to initiate (in the cannabis naïve) and increase use (in those with past-year use) in a representative sample of Missouri college students. Methods: Data (ncannabisnaïve = 2,716; ncannabisuse  = 1,591) were collected from 25 Missouri college campuses. Four pre-registered multilevel models examined the associations of theory-driven predictors with the intention to initiate cannabis use and to increase use. Results: 33.4% of all students surveyed reported past-year cannabis use, 9.9% of cannabis naïve students reported intending to initiate cannabis use, and 22% of those with previous cannabis use reported intending to increase cannabis use. Multilevel modes found that being gay or lesbian (AOR = 3.03; CI = [1.72, 5.34]), bisexual (AOR= 3.52; CI = [2.41, 5.14]), or queer (AOR = 2.51; CI = [1.71, 3.69]) was associated with intending to initiate use, while greater flourishing (AOR = 0.98; CI  = [0.96, 0.99]) was associated with decreased odds of intending to initiate use. Endorsing more cannabis motives (AOR = 1.13; CI = [1.08, 1.19]), age of first use (AOR = 1.09; CI = [1.03, 1.15]), and being gay or lesbian (AOR = 2.19; CI = [1.27, 3.76]) were associated with intending to increase use. Endorsing more cannabis-related negative consequences was associated with intending to decrease use (AOR = 0.91; CI = [0.89, 0.94]). Discussion: Multiple theory-driven factors were associated with intending to initiate or increase cannabis use following legalization. Future research should examine how intentions to change cannabis use translate to actualized behavior following legalization and factors that may create increased risk for minoritized sexual identities.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/287	Elder, Sarah N.; Teeters, Jenni B.	Are Changes in Negative Cannabis Expectancies, Peer Approval, and Perceptions of Dangerousness of Driving After Cannabis Use Associated with Changes in Instances of Driving After Cannabis Use Following a Mobile-Phone Based Intervention? 	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 165-176	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/287/202	Objective: Driving after cannabis use (DACU) has become an increasing public health concern nationwide. Although previous research has linked perceived peer approval, perceptions of dangerousness, and negative effect expectancies to DACU, no previous work has examined whether these constructs can be successfully targeted in an intervention or whether changes in these variables lead to changes in DACU. The present study is a secondary data analysis to investigate within-subject change and potential mechanisms of change in a pilot trial for a mobile phone-based intervention shown to significantly reduce DACU over time. Method: Participants were 66 emerging adults who completed the mobile-based intervention and provided 3-month follow-up data. Participants completed measures that assessed rates of DACU, negative cannabis expectancies, perceptions of dangerousness, and perceived peer-approval. Results: Results indicated that negative effect expectancies significantly increased from baseline to three-month follow-up, while perceived peer approval for DACU significantly decreased from baseline to three-month follow-up. Though significant within-subject change was found for all variables of interest, none of the variables of interest significantly mediated changes in instances of DACU over time. The results of the current study suggest that key variables associated with DACU-perceived peer approval and negative cannabis expectancies can be successfully targeted in a mobile-based brief intervention. Conclusions: Continued research investigating moderators and mediators of intervention outcomes is warranted.  
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/288	Glasser, Allison M.; Uriarte, Caitlin; King Jensen, Jessica; Sterling, Kymberle; Shang, Ce; Hammond, David; Villanti, Andrea C.	Temporal Trends in Young Adult Cannabis and Tobacco Use in States with Different Cannabis Policies	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 98-111	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/288/216	Objective: Cannabis legalization may impact both cannabis and tobacco use, given the high prevalence of co-use (including blunt use) among young adults (YAs) in the United States. The objective of this descriptive ecological study was to examine trends in YA cannabis and tobacco use from 2002-2018 in states that passed adult and medical use (AMU) or medical use only (MUO) cannabis laws during that time (N = 16). Method: Using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we conducted a segmented regression analysis to calculate absolute percent change in past 30-day cannabis, blunt, cigarette, and cigar use between time points. We descriptively compared points of slope inflection with key legalization dates. Results: All states showed a decline in YA cigarette smoking over time, a slight decline in cigar smoking, and increases in cannabis and blunt use. Cannabis use increased following opening of MUO retail outlets and, in several states, increased following adult use law implementation and/or opening of retail outlets. For example, in Maine, cannabis use plateaued after a MUO law was adopted (2009) until about 1-2 years after retail outlets opened (2011), when YA cannabis use increased by 22.4% (95% CI: 19.0, 29.4) and continued increasing steadily after adult use was adopted (2017). Conclusions: Cannabis and blunt use increased more in states where AMU laws were in place compared to those with MUO laws, though causality was not assessed. Varying trends may correlate with cannabis policies, tobacco policies and other political, economic, or social factors at the state level.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/289	Walukevich-Dienst, Katherine; DeVries, Ella G.; Fontana, Thomas J. K.; Blayney, Jessica A.; Kilmer, Jason R.; Graupensperger, Scott; Lee, Christine M.	What Are Tolerance Breaks and Why Do Young Adults Take Them? A Qualitative Investigation of Temporary Abstinence Breaks from Cannabis	2025-01-31	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Cannabis; 150-164	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/289/200	Objective: This study investigated young adults’ (YAs) experiences with tolerance breaks (temporary abstinence from cannabis; T-breaks). Method: In Study 1, 15 YAs who used cannabis completed a qualitative interview. In Study 2, 66 YAs who used cannabis at least 2x/week completed online survey items assessing T-break familiarity, definitions, motivations, and experiences. Data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results: In Study 1, five themes were identified: (1) time frames for T-breaks were variable but brief and temporary, (2) T-breaks were motivated by tolerance reduction (3) and other motives, (4) withdrawal is an early barrier; positive outcomes occurred with longer breaks, (5) some YAs viewed T-breaks as unnecessary/unachievable.  Study 2 findings demonstrated that YAs were familiar with T-breaks and most had attempted a T-break in the past year; greater variability in T-break motivations was apparent in Study 2. Conclusions: Results suggest that YAs define T-breaks as an intentional and temporary period of abstinence from cannabis, regardless of motivation.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/28	Hetelekides, Eleftherios M.; Tyskiewicz, Alexander J.; Prince, Mark A.; Collins, R. Lorraine	The indirect effects of self-efficacy on cannabis use via cannabis protective strategies: A preliminary study	2018-07-07	Cannabis; Vol. 1 No. 2 (2018): Cannabis; 66-76	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/cannabis.2018.02.007/14	Cannabis use has more than doubled in the past decade and nearly three of 10 users develop a cannabis use disorder. The increase in users, combined with the ongoing changes in the medical, legal and social status of cannabis, has contributed to interest in the antecedents of cannabis use. In the current preliminary study, we gathered information from a community sample (N = 54) of regular cannabis using young adults. Assessments included perceived self-efficacy for reducing intake or abstaining (SE-R/A), use of cannabis protective strategies (CPS), and average quantity of cannabis use per day. We systematically explored which specific CPS were most strongly associated with self-efficacy and cannabis use. Three clinically relevant subgroups of CPS emerged from this analysis: strategies strongly associated with only self-efficacy, only cannabis use, and both variables. We hypothesized that self-efficacy would be associated with less cannabis use via use of CPS. Among specific CPS examined, “Use a little and then wait to see how you feel before using more” had the strongest association with self-efficacy while “Avoid methods of using cannabis that can make you more intoxicated than you would like” had the strongest negative association with cannabis use. We observed a significant indirect relationship from self-efficacy to cannabis use through use of CPS. Our findings suggest that use of CPS is a potential mechanism by which cannabis users reduce use, and a more proximal antecedent of cannabis use than personal confidence in one's ability to stop using. These preliminary findings highlight the value of studying individual strategies. They also may have implications for promoting use of cannabis protective strategies when treating those with cannabis use problems. DOI: 10.26828/cannabis.2018.02.007 
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/291	Ageze, Daniel; Dell'Acqua, Renee ; Marcotte, Thomas D.; Garcia, Jesus ; Rybar, Jill ; Hill, Linda	The Impact of Adult Cannabis Use Legalization in California: A Qualitative Review of Subject Matter Expert Opinions on Proposition 64	2025-11-03	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 3 (2025): Cannabis; 72-88	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/291/229	Objective: California  legalized adult cannabis use in 2016 with the passing of Proposition 64: The Adult Use Marijuana Act (Prop 64). This qualitative study aimed to explore the impact of legalization on various stakeholders and institutions within California, especially as it relates to public policy, health, and safety. Method: Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted from January to March 2022 with stakeholders that included Subject Matter Experts (SME) from the following categories: clinicians (primary care, pain management, addiction medicine, cannabis clinicians), researchers, advocates, dispensary owners/personnel, legal professionals, and cannabis consumers. Nine interview guides were constructed to assess participants' perceptions of Prop 64 and its impact on their given sector/industry as it relates to the use, production, distribution, and access to medicinal and adult cannabis use. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify salient themes from the interviews. Results: The three primary themes and subthemes included: (1) Successes of Prop 64 (quality control, justice reform, stigma reduction), (2) Shortcomings of Prop 64 (high cost, licensing, bureaucracy, social inequity), and (3) Recommendations for improvement of Prop 64 (need for research, policy change, the transformation of business model). Conclusions: The implementation of cannabis legalization in California had a broad impact on many key stakeholders. While demonstrating some success, SME described key areas for improvement of Prop 64. A multidisciplinary approach with support from government, state, and local municipalities is necessary to facilitate proper regulation, provide timely support, and reduce social injustice, harm, and unforeseen consequences of use. Updating federal regulations (e.g., Schedule I status) might be an important step to allow for improving regulation and operations (e.g. banking) within the cannabis industry, further research and education, and greater cross-state consistency regarding law enforcement/regulation of cannabis. Public Health Implications: The information gathered will help inform public policy, as well as help health professionals design new health education campaigns for the general public.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/292	Darby J. E. Lowe; Wang, Cindy ; Rueda, Sergio; George, Tony P.	Budtender Perceptions and Knowledge of Cannabis and Mental Health: A Preliminary Study	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 164-176	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/292/209	Objective: Legal cannabis dispensary employees (“Budtenders”) are a significant resource for cannabis users. Current research indicates that cannabis use may adversely impact mental health. Public perception, however, is often inconsistent with this evidence, leading to increased use and disproportionate harm towards individuals with mental health disorders. This underscores the need for a deeper understanding of how Budtenders may influence these perceptions. This preliminary cross-sectional survey assessed Budtender perceptions and knowledge of cannabis use and its implications for mental health. Method: Researchers recruited Budtenders (N = 46) from legal cannabis dispensaries (Ontario Cannabis Stores) across the Greater Toronto (Canada) Area to participate in a 15-minute online survey. The survey collected non-identifying demographic data and responses about perceptions, education and customer interactions surrounding cannabis and mental health. Results: We found that Budtender perceptions (N = 46) of cannabis’ influence on mental health vary significantly based on symptomatology assessed, and often diverge from evidence-based knowledge. Notably, 54.6% of Budtenders rated cannabis as having a beneficial effect across the outcomes assessed, with sleep and depression most frequently perceived as beneficial. Customers inquired about the mental health effects of cannabis at 21% of cannabis store visits. There was considerable variability in the sources from which Budtenders derived their knowledge. Conclusions: This study underscores significant gaps between Budtender perceptions and scientific evidence regarding cannabis use and mental health. Determining the impact of these perceptions is crucial for developing targeted, evidence-based educational interventions to mitigate the risks associated with recreational cannabis use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/296	Lauren Micalizzi, Ph.D.	Special Section Editor: Abstracts from the 2024 Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Marijuana July 19th -21st, 2024	2025-01-07	Cannabis; Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): Cannabis; 177-311	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/296/179	none
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/297	Pedersen, Eric R.; Prince, Mark A. ; Shute, Ireland M. ; Brown, Megan E. ; Gray, Bethany ; Buch, Keegan D. ; Monterosso, John 	Developing a Mock Retail Cannabis Shop for Research: A Description of The CANNEX 	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 51-66	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/297/213	Objective: Cannabis retail dispensaries have proliferated in the United States in recent years, making it an important time for conducting research. Research is needed to learn more about consumer purchasing behaviors, including the impact of product marketing both inside and outside of retail spaces, and studies are needed to explore how both consumers and retail staff interpret the health benefits and potential risks associated with cannabis products within these environments. Current research on cannabis dispensaries often involves surveys or interviews with customers and dispensary staff outside of dispensary environments, but much can be learned through observational and experimental methods within dispensaries themselves. However, researchers have traditionally relied on surveillance methods, where researchers visit dispensaries to gain a deeper understanding of real-world encounters in these environments. Although these methods provide helpful insights into purchasing and selling behavior, as well as regulatory compliance, these studies are conducted in an uncontrolled environment, as products, messaging, and interactions are specific to the dispensaries in which the research is conducted. Method: We therefore created a mock cannabis dispensary to offer participants a retail experience that can be controlled and manipulated (e.g., adjustable cannabis product prices, placement of health and risk information in the dispensary, scripted interactions with dispensary staff) to help balance ecological and internal validity and answer questions about purchasing and selling behavior beyond what current methods allow. Results: We describe the process of developing and stocking the first known mock cannabis dispensary for research purposes, the Cannabis Annex (“The CANNEX”), including interior design, product selection, feedback solicitation from 20 cannabis industry workers, and plans for future research studies within the environment. Conclusions: By describing our process, we hope to aid researchers in developing their own similar mock dispensaries to continue learning about the health benefits, risks from use, and policy implications of cannabis in an increasingly legal recreational atmosphere.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/299	Appleyard Allen, Jane; Title, Shaleen; Bradfield, Brian	Same Story, Different Seller: Teaching the Public How Cannabis Models Driven by Profit Create the Same Injustices as Prohibition	2025-11-03	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 3 (2025): Cannabis; 9-25	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/299/222	Objective: U.S. cannabis policy has been shaped by racism and produced racist outcomes. The legalization of cannabis for adult use represents an opportunity to end harmful policies and repair some of the damage caused by the War on Drugs. However, this opportunity may be slipping away. Large corporations with histories of exploitation are steering cannabis policy to maximize profits. Parabola Center for Law and Policy created a media campaign to educate the public about these issues and promote cannabis policies that benefit regular people. We conducted an experiment in the context of an online survey to determine whether six videos from the campaign would resonate with U.S. adults and influence beliefs about cannabis policy. Method: In September 2023, we conducted an online survey of 404 U.S. adults. Participants were randomized to view six Parabola Campaign videos featuring cannabis policy experts before or after responding to survey questions. Results: Participants who saw the Parabola Campaign videos had greater agreement that cannabis legalization should not benefit the tobacco industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and alcohol companies (all p < .05). They also had greater agreement that legalization should create space for small businesses, create a sharing community, and benefit people from communities that have been harmed by the Drug War (all p < .05).  Conclusions: Public education can be a powerful tool to promote equity-focused cannabis policy, by raising awareness of corporate influence, promoting community-centered regulatory models, and building support for an equitable approach to federal legalization.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/303	Phillips, Kristina T.; Pedula, Kathryn L.; Tsuzaki, Kara; Erickson, Catherine; Lai, Jonathan; Simiola, Vanessa ; Wong, Samantha; Pokhrel, Pallav; Satre, Derek D.	Cannabis Use Patterns and Co-Use of Alcohol and Nicotine in Adults Over 50 by Demographic Factors and Medical Cannabis Use	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 112-128	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/303/219	Objective: Cannabis use among adults over age 50 is increasing, but data on specific products, co-use, and cannabis-related problems in this age group are lacking. The current study assessed differences in cannabis use patterns and alcohol and nicotine co-use by select demographic factors and medical cannabis status, as well as associations with problem cannabis use, among adults over 50. Method: Adults over age 50 who used cannabis use in the past 30 days were recruited from a healthcare system and invited to complete an online survey. Results: Participants (N = 367) were 43% female, with an average age of 65.9 (SD = 8.6), and predominantly White (67.9%), Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (NHPI; 12.3%), or Asian (9.3%). Mean frequency of cannabis use within the past 30 days was 18.7 days (SD = 11.5), and 27% reported use of non-medical cannabis-only. Co-use of cannabis with other substances was common, especially alcohol. Although group comparisons showed several differences by age, sex, and medical cannabis status, greater differences were found by race/ethnicity. White participants were more likely than others to have a state medical cannabis card, source their cannabis solely from medical dispensaries, and report alcohol co-use. NHPI participants were most likely to smoke cannabis and use tobacco. Smoking, as compared to consuming edibles and “other” methods, and greater cannabis frequency, were associated with problem cannabis use. Conclusions: Findings illustrate patterns of cannabis and other substance use, with important demographic differences. Future research among older adults should include development of targeted interventions to address cannabis use problems and polysubstance use.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/305	Vogel, Erin A.; Romm, Katelyn F.; McMaughan, DJ; Zvolensky, Michael J.; Garey, Lorra; Businelle, Michael S.	Associations of Disability and Social Support with Cannabis Use Among Adults with Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms	2025-11-03	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 3 (2025): Cannabis; 103-115	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/305/233	Objective: People with (versus without) disabilities may be more likely to use cannabis medicinally, especially if they lack social support to cope with symptoms. However, associations of social support and disability with cannabis use remain largely unexplored. Method: Adults with clinically significant anxiety and/or depressive symptoms participating in a clinical trial completed a baseline survey assessing past-month medical and recreational cannabis use, self-perceived disability (yes/no), perceived social support, and sociodemographics. Regression models examined the association between disability and social support, and the main and interactive effects of disability and social support on past-month medical and recreational cannabis use, adjusting for race and ethnicity, gender, age, and income. Results: The sample (N = 822) was 25.3% American Indian, 25.1% Black, 25.1% White, and 24.6% Latinx (64.6% female; Mage = 38.3 [SD = 12.8]). Half (51.1%) self-reported a health condition that limited activities (i.e., disability); 24.9% reported past-month medical cannabis use, and 25.4% reported past-month recreational cannabis use. Participants with a self-reported disability reported lower average social support than those without (p = .031). A significant (p = .045) disability X social support interaction indicated that social support was associated with lower odds of medical cannabis use among those without (p = .038), but not with (p = .525), disability. Disability and social support were not significantly associated with recreational cannabis use (p-values > .05). Conclusions: Individuals with disabilities had elevated odds of using medical cannabis, regardless of social support. Social support is imperative for well-being, and cannabis use may alleviate some symptoms; however, more accessible, comprehensive healthcare may be needed to support individuals with disabilities.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/306	Bolt, Jennifer; Movold, Jacob; Fenton, Melanie; Behm, Megan; Williamson, Jill; Jakobi, Jennifer M.	Cannabis Use and Perceptions of Cannabis Safety, Effectiveness, and Stigma amongst older Canadians: A Cross-Sectional Survey	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 1-17	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/306/218	Objective: Since legalization in 2018, older Canadians’ use of cannabis has increased steadily, yet little is known about their perceptions of cannabis. We aimed to determine cannabis usage, and characterize perceptions of safety, effectiveness and stigma in community dwelling older Canadians.  Method: Canadians aged 50 years and older were invited to participate in an electronic survey of their experience with cannabis and perceptions of cannabis safety, effectiveness, and stigma. Data were categorized as participants reporting current use, non-use, prior use, and considering use. Perceptions were assessed with a 5-point Likert scale and open text box questions.  Logistic regression models were used to assess how age, sex, cannabis usage, and education influenced perceptions. Results: One thousand six hundred fifteen participants completed the survey. Current cannabis use was reported by 44% of respondents, followed by non-use (33.2%), prior use (16.5%) and considering use (6.1%). Almost half (49.2%) perceived the risks of using cannabis to be low or very low. The greatest concerns regarding cannabis use were effects on cognition/mental health (40.8%), physical health (19.1%), and available product information (18.0%). Participants somewhat or strongly agreed that there is not enough information on cannabis safety (60.4%) and effectiveness (63.8%), and 34.7% perceived there to be a negative stigma amongst family and friends. Cannabis perceptions were influenced by age, sex, cannabis usage, and education. Conclusions:Generational and sex-based differences exist in cannabis usage and perceptions amongst older Canadians. These differences require consideration by health practitioners and public health workers to meet the educational needs of older adults.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/309	Matheson, Justin; Saini, Harseerat; Haines-Saah, Rebecca; Sanches, Marcos; Sloan, Matthew E.; Zaweel, Adam; Hassan, Ahmed; Buckley, Leslie; Porath, Amy; MacKillop, James; Hendershot, Christian S.; Kloiber, Stefan; Le Foll, Bernard	Cannabis Use Characteristics and Reasons for Product Choices Among Patients Accessing Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: A Mixed-Methods Study	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 67-84	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/309/220	Objective: The diversity and potency of cannabis products have increased in recent years, underscoring the importance of understanding which products are being used and why. Patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) use have a high prevalence of risky cannabis use, making it especially important to understand use patterns in this group. We aimed to first describe cannabis product characteristics and then explore reasons for choosing products in our sample.  Method: In this mixed-methods study, 472 adults who self-reported accessing SUD treatment and lifetime cannabis use completed an online survey. A subset of 22 participants completed in-depth interviews. Quantitative results focused on describing cannabis use characteristics (e.g., product types) among participants reporting past-year cannabis use (current use group) or lifetime cannabis use but no use in past year (past use group), while qualitative descriptive analysis was used to describe reasons for choosing products among participants who were currently using cannabis. Results:  Across medical and non-medical use of cannabis, dried flower and smoked cannabis formulations were most used (e.g., 89% of the current use group reported smoking cannabis for non-medical purposes), followed by edibles (e.g., 53% of the current use group used edible formulations of cannabis for non-medical purposes), though there was considerable use of higher-potency products such as concentrates and dabs (e.g., 11% of the current use group had used dabs for non-medical purposes). Our qualitative analysis found that almost all participants were motivated by THC content when purchasing products, yet sometimes perceived medical benefits or harm reduction were reasons for using certain products (especially CBD-dominant products), while sometimes other factors (e.g., convenience, familiarity) were influential. Conclusions: Cannabis use characteristics (including motives for choosing products) are complex and nuanced in patients accessing SUD treatment. More work is needed to understand longitudinal relationships between use of different cannabis products and both harms and potential benefits.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/30	none	Abstracts from the 2017 Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Marijuana July 28th-30th, 2017 Fort Collins, Colorado	2018-02-05	Cannabis; Vol. 1 No. 1 (2018): Cannabis; 61-106	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/30/7	All poster presentations and symposia were peer-reviewed by the 2017 Conference Program Committee of the Research Society on Marijuana (RSMj) (Chair: Bradley T. Conner, Colorado State University). All abstracts below were approved and voluntarily submitted for publication in Cannabis by the presenting or contact author.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/312	Minister, Claire; Hendershot, Christian S.; Keough, Matthew T.; Wardell, Jeffrey D.	Understanding the Relationships between ADHD Symptoms and Cannabis-Related Consequences among Young Adults	2025-11-03	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 3 (2025): Cannabis; 116-132	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/312/227	Objective: The link between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cannabis-related problems is well documented, though research has primarily focused on cannabis use disorder (CUD) or cannabis consequences in aggregate. This study examined how inattentive (IN) versus hyperactive/impulsive (HI) ADHD symptoms relate to CUD symptoms as well as distinct domains of cannabis consequences (social-interpersonal consequences, impaired control, negative self-perception, self-care, risk behaviors, academic/occupational consequences, physical dependence, and blackout use) in young adults. Total amount of cannabis flower used over the past 90 days was explored as a potential mediator of these associations.  Method: Young adults (N = 160; 41% male; ages 19-25, M = 22, SD = 2.06) with a history of regular cannabis use completed self-report measures of ADHD symptoms and cannabis consequences. Participants also completed a 90-day Timeline Follow Back assessing grams of cannabis flower consumed each day, along with a structured clinical interview for CUD. Results: IN symptoms were directly associated with cannabis-related occupational/academic consequences, self-care consequences, and blackouts/memory impairment, independent of quantity of cannabis consumption. HI symptoms showed positive indirect associations with physical dependence, impaired control, and CUD through greater amount of cannabis used. Conversely, IN symptoms had negative indirect associations with these outcomes, mediated by amount of cannabis used. Conclusions: Findings reveal distinct pathways through which IN and HI ADHD symptoms relate to cannabis problems in young adults. Findings highlight the need to consider ADHD symptom domains separately when assessing specific cannabis-related risks, which may have implications for tailoring interventions.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/316	Ntais, Christos; Kontodimopoulos, Nikolaos; Melanthiou, Yioula	Marketing Management and Policymaking for Medical Cannabis: Overcoming Barriers and Shaping Strategies	2025-07-14	Cannabis; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Cannabis; 129-140	The Research Society on Marijuana	eng	none	https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/download/316/215	Objective: Medical cannabis has emerged as a promising therapeutic option, but its market acceptance faces significant regulatory, societal, and scientific challenges. This study explores pharmaceutical business managers’ perspectives on marketing strategies, brand architecture, and the value proposition of medical cannabis, aiming to identify approaches to overcome these barriers and guide policymaking. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 pharmaceutical managers to explore key challenges and strategies. Results: Key themes included the need for extensive scientific research, targeted communication to address stigma, effective marketing tactics, and long-term sustainability. Participants stressed the importance of rigorous, disease-specific research to establish medical cannabis’ therapeutic efficacy and build trust with healthcare providers and patients. Societal stigma was identified as a major barrier, with participants advocating for communication strategies that distinguish medical cannabis from recreational use and educate stakeholders. Marketing strategies focused on creating a unique value proposition, strong brand identity, and adaptive approaches to meet the diverse needs of healthcare professionals, regulators, and patients. Additionally, phased market entry strategies, beginning with pilot programs in regions with progressive regulatory environments, were recommended to pave the way for broader market expansion. Conclusions: This study offers valuable insights into the marketing management and policymaking necessary for integrating medical cannabis into the pharmaceutical market. By addressing regulatory uncertainties, societal stigma, and scientific gaps, pharmaceutical companies can unlock the full potential of medical cannabis as a credible therapeutic product. These findings lay the groundwork for future research and policymaking to promote sustainable growth in the emerging medical cannabis market.
oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/319	Meacham, Meredith C.; Mian, Maha N.; Schell, Danielle; Cheshire, Coye	Cannabis Dispensary Staff (Budtender") Perspectives on Trustworthiness of Social Media Information: A Qualitative Study	2025	10	.pdf	application/pdf	6202	346	54	Furthermore, this study adds to the growing COVID-19 literature by providing insight on college student SAM behaviors. We discovered that not only does socialization affect SAM, but the specific contexts and motivations behind these behaviors also play a crucial role, which adds to our developing understanding of SAM behavior.	cache/cannabis-169.pdf	txt/cannabis-169.txt