Associations Between Cannabis Messaging and Derived Psychoactive Cannabis Product Perceptions, Use, and Use Intentions Among a Sample of US Young Adults

Authors

Cassidy R. LoParco, 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, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
Yuxian Cui, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Darcey M. McCready, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Katelyn F. Romm, TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Yan Wang, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Y Tony Yang, Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, School of Nursing, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Hannah Szlyk, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Erin Kasson, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, 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

7-23-2025

Journal

Substance use & misuse

DOI

10.1080/10826084.2025.2530786

Keywords

Marijuana; delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); 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 4,031 US young adults ages 18-34 (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 = 1,968). 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 #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 #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.; Rossheim, Matthew E.; Cui, Yuxian; McCready, Darcey M.; Romm, Katelyn F.; Wang, Yan; Yang, Y Tony; Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A.; Szlyk, Hannah; Kasson, Erin; and Berg, Carla J., "Associations Between Cannabis Messaging and Derived Psychoactive Cannabis Product Perceptions, Use, and Use Intentions Among a Sample of US Young Adults" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 7554.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/7554

Department

Health Policy and Management