Motives, Frequency, and Consequences of Cannabis Use Among College Students

• Author: Adriana Espinosa,Lesia M. Ruglass,Fiona N. Conway,Kristina M. Jackson,Helene R. White
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00220426221093608
• Published date: 01 January 2023
• Date: 01 January 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/00220426221093608

Journal of Drug Issues

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DOI: 10.1177/00220426221093608

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Article

Motives, Frequency, and

Consequences of Cannabis Use

Among College Students

Adriana Espinosa1,2 , Lesia M. Ruglass1,2, Fiona N. Conway3,

Kristina M. Jackson4, and Helene R. White2

Abstract

We investigated profiles of cannabis use motives among current cannabis-consuming college

students. Then we assessed profile differences in demographic characteristics, social contexts of

use, regulatory environment, alcohol use, negative affect, negative consequences, and cannabis

use. Participants (N = 1, 213) were from three universities in states with different cannabis

legislation. Six profiles emerged: Low Motives, Low to Moderate Enhance, High Enhance,

High Enhance & Social + Moderate Expand, High Enhance & Cope, and High Motives. Profiles

differed in social contexts of use, sex, alcohol use, negative affect, and regulatory environment.

Profiles endorsing high and multiple motives had higher cannabis use and negative consequences,

relative to profiles with low or fewer motives. Profiles characterized by high avoidance motives

(i.e., coping) had the highest cannabis use and consequences. Interventions targeting types and

intensity of motives for cannabis-use may help reduce use and related consequences among

college students who use cannabis.

Keywords

cannabis use motives, cannabis legislation, cannabis use consequences, social contexts of use

The legal landscape of recreational cannabis use in the United States is rapidly evolving. To date,

18 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational cannabis use and more states

are expected to legalize cannabis use soon. Researchers and policymakers argue that legalization

may contribute to reduced perceptions of cannabis-related harm and increased use among young

adults, particularly college students (Okaneku et al., 2015; Salas-Wright et al., 2015; Sarvet et al.,

2018). A 2019 national survey (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,

2019) revealed that 12 million young adults (35.4%) endorsed past-year cannabis use—an

increase of approximately 6% from prior years. In 2020, the prevalence of cannabis use among

college students reached a historic high of 44% with 7.9% reporting daily cannabis use

(Schulenberg et al., 2020).

1Department of Psychology, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA

2Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

3Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

4Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI USA

Corresponding Author:

Adriana Espinosa, The City College of New York, Department of Psychology, 160 Convent Avenue, NAC 7/120,

New York, NY 10031, USA.

Email: aespinosa@ccny.cuny.edu

1093608

JODXXX10.1177/00220426221093608Journal of Drug IssuesEspinosa et al.

research-article2022

2023, Vol. 53(1) 61–78

62 Journal of Drug Issues 53(1)

Heavy cannabis use poses physical and psychological risks (Ansell et al., 2015; Brook et al.,

2011; Crean et al., 2011; Hall & Degenhardt, 2014; Volkow et al., 2016). Depending on dosage,

cannabis use can induce acute psychological effects including panic and psychotic symptoms

(Ansell et al., 2015; Feingold & Weinstein, 2021; Hall & Degenhardt, 2014). Heavy, long-term

cannabis use is associated with deficits in attention, working memory, verbal learning (Crean

et al., 2011), and with increased risk of depression and substance use disorders (Gobbi et al.,

2019; Hall & Degenhardt, 2014; Volkow et al., 2016). Moreover, the co-use of cannabis and

alcohol is high among youth and especially college aged individuals (Goodwin et al., 2018;

Romaguera et al., 2017; Sokolovsky et al., 2020; White et al., 2019), also increasing the risk of

alcohol-related illnesses in the long-run. Thus, it is imperative to understand the motives for can-

nabis use among college students and identify whether specific combinations of motives differ-

entially inform cannabis use and negative consequences of cannabis use.

Motives for Cannabis Use

Recent investigations have adapted Cox and Klinger’s (1988) motivational model of alcohol use

to include cannabis (Davis et al., 2018; Schultz et al., 2019; Thurn et al., 2017; Vest & Tragesser,

2019). This framework posits that cannabis use motives can be classified into approach or avoid-

ance types. Approach motives correspond to the pursuit of a positive outcome (e.g., enhance-

ment). Avoidance motives are characterized by the attempt to escape negative experiences (e.g.,

cope). To date, studies have consistently demonstrated links between cannabis use motives and

cannabis consumption and/or related problems (Glodosky & Cuttler, 2020; Anderson et al., 2015;

Buckner et al., 2019; Patrick et al., 2016; Patrick et al. 2019b). Anderson et al. (2015) found that

approach motives were associated with increased cannabis use and related problems during ado-

lescence. In addition, avoidance motives were associated with increased cannabis-related prob-

lems. Fox et al. (2011) found that avoidance motives predicted a higher number of cannabis-related

problems and dependence symptoms both cross-sectionally and prospectively in a sample of

adolescents who participated in a brief cannabis treatment intervention. Bonn-Miller et al. (2007)

found that approach and avoidance motives were significantly associated with higher past 30-day

cannabis consumption among young adults. Finally, Glodosky and Cuttler (2020) found that

among college students, avoidance motives, most notably coping, related to cannabis-related

problems and negative affect.

Research employing thorough examinations of differences in motives by sociodemographic

characteristics and cannabis legalization is lacking. For example, while a few studies have indi-

cated that men endorse more conformity motives than women (Buckner et al., 2012b; Bujarski

et al., 2012), others have found no differences in motives by SES (Bonar et al., 2017; Brammer

et al., 2022).

To our knowledge, only a few studies have examined differences in motives between racial/

ethnic groups, as most studies are based on samples with mostly White participants (Bresin &

Mekawi, 2019). Among those exploring racial/ethnic differences in motives, one study found

that Black participants endorsed more social motives than White participants (Buckner, et al.,

2016b). Another study found that Native American youth endorsed avoidance motives more than

White youth, who were more likely to endorse approach motives (Davis et al., 2020). Finally,

although the evidence of an association between regulatory environment and cannabis use is

mixed (Anderson et al., 2019, 2021), no study to our knowledge has specifically explored the

association between regulatory environment and motives for cannabis use. Notwithstanding, data

from national public opinion polls indicate that among adolescents and young adults, perceived

harmfulness of cannabis use has decreased since the legalization of medical cannabis use

(Carliner et al., 2017). Thus, regulatory environment is an important factor to consider when

examining motives for cannabis use.