Cannabis and Derived Cannabis Use, Motives, and Consequences Among US Young Adults: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Mediation Study

Authors

Cassidy R. LoParco, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Yuxian Cui, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Matthew E. Rossheim, Department of Health Administration and Health Policy, College of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Rishika Chakraborty, Department of Health Policy and Media Engagement, School of Nursing, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Morgan Speer, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Julia Chen-Sankey, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
Carla J. Berg, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-25-2025

Journal

Substance use & addiction journal

DOI

10.1177/29767342251355094

Keywords

delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); marijuana; psychoactive; public health; substance use motives

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Since the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act, derived intoxicating cannabis products (DICPs) emerged as largely unregulated products; meanwhile, traditional cannabis use has increased. To inform effective prevention, research is needed to assess differences in motives for using cannabis only versus both cannabis and DICPs, as well as use-related consequences. METHODS: We analyzed survey data (June-November 2023) from 4031 US young adults aged 18 to 34 (average age = 26.9; 63.9% white; 59.0% female; aiming for ~50% past-month cannabis use). The analytic sample included participants reporting past-month cannabis use (n = 1968). Two cross-sectional mediation models were conducted to examine: (1) cannabis use motives (social/cognitive enhancement and coping) in relation to use-related consequences (psychophysiological and sociobehavioral) via use category (cannabis-only vs cannabis-DICP co-use) and (2) consequences in relation to use category via use motives. RESULTS: Overall, 54.4% reported cannabis-only use and 45.6% reported cannabis-DICP co-use. Greater enhancement and coping motives were associated with cannabis-DICP co-use (vs cannabis-only use). Regarding Model No. 1, lower cannabis coping motives and cannabis-DICP use (vs cannabis-only use) were associated with greater psychophysiological and sociobehavioral consequences, and the associations between coping and enhancement motives and psychophysiological and sociobehavioral consequences were indirectly mediated via cannabis-DICP co-use. For Model No. 2, lower psychophysiological and greater sociobehavioral consequences were associated with greater coping and enhancement motives, greater sociobehavioral consequences was associated with higher odds of cannabis-DICP co-use (vs cannabis-only use), and psychophysiological and sociobehavioral consequences were indirectly associated with cannabis-DICP co-use through enhancement and coping motives. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the risks associated with cannabis and DICP use, future intervention and prevention efforts should focus on the observed associations to reduce risk.

APA Citation

LoParco, Cassidy R.; Cui, Yuxian; Rossheim, Matthew E.; Chakraborty, Rishika; Speer, Morgan; Chen-Sankey, Julia; Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A.; and Berg, Carla J., "Cannabis and Derived Cannabis Use, Motives, and Consequences Among US Young Adults: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Mediation Study" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 7549.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/7549

Department

Health Policy and Management