Marijuana Use and Achievement Motives: An Exploratory Analysis of Self-Reported Health Among Adult Cannabis Consumers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore self-reported physical health and achievement motives in a sample of adult cannabis consumers. An online target sample ( n = 181) of adult cannabis consumers ( M = 38 yoa) was obtained from a cannabis tourism company in Colorado. Physical health and the primary benefit of cannabis use were self-reported and achievement motives were measured using the revised 10-item version of the Achievement Motives Scale (AMS). Results revealed five categories of benefit from cannabis consumption: stress/anxiety reduction (40%), pain/disease management (38.5%), thinking/introspection (11%), alternative drug (7.1%), and enhanced sociability (3%). t test results revealed no significant differences between the stress/anxiety and pain/disease groups in self-reported health (SRH), AMS dimensions, or cannabis consumption preferences. Regression results revealed that AMS factor fear of failure ( b = −0.224, p = .003), followed by cannabis spending per week ( b = −0.217, p = .024) best predicted SRH.