Exposure to Cannabis in Social Networks and Advertising in Relation to Cannabis-Related Perceptions, Motives, and Use Behaviors Among Young Adults in the US

Yan Wang, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Morgan Speer, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Matthew E. Rossheim, College of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
Julia Chen-Sankey, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.
Cassidy R. LoParco, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Yuxian Cui, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Katelyn F. Romm, TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Laura Schubel, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Rishika Chakraborty, Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, School of Nursing, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Carla J. Berg, George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-13-2025

Journal

Substance use & misuse

DOI

10.1080/10826084.2025.2515155

Keywords

Young adult; cannabis; marketing; risk factors; risk perceptions; social influences

Abstract

Within the expanding US cannabis market, young adult cannabis use has increased, underscoring the need to understand key influences on cannabis use. This study examined cannabis-related social and marketing exposures in relation to cannabis use and related mechanisms among US young adults. This study analyzed 2023 survey data from 4031 US young adults (ages 18-34; ∼48.8% past-month cannabis use (by study design); M = 26.39, 59.4% female, 37.4% racial minority, 19.0% Hispanic). Path analyses assessed: (1) parental use, friends' use, and advertising exposure in relation to past-month use status and frequency (among those reporting use); and (2) potential mediation by perceived risks (addictiveness, harm) and use motives. Parental use was associated with lower perceived harm and higher motives; friends' use with lower perceived harm and higher motives; advertising exposure with higher perceived addictiveness, harm, and motives; higher perceived addictiveness with lower use likelihood but more frequent use among those who used; and lower perceived harm and higher motives with use status and frequency. Parental and friends' use showed direct effects on use status and frequency; advertising exposure showed direct effects on use status. Perceived harm and motives mediated associations between parental use and use status and frequency. Perceived addictiveness, harm, and use motives mediated associations between friends' use to use status and frequency, and advertising exposure to use status and frequency (except not perceived addictiveness for friends' use to frequency). Understanding these links is crucial to inform policies and interventions to reduce cannabis exposures and use-related harms.

Department

Prevention and Community Health

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