Abstract
Background: Young adults regularly using cannabis represent a uniquely vulnerable yet heterogeneous cohort. Few studies have examined user profiles using cannabis use motives and expectations. The association between user profiles and psychosocial functioning among only regular users remains unexplored. This exploration is important to improve public education efforts and design tailor treatment approaches.Methods: Regular cannabis users (at least weekly; n = 329) completed an online survey via Amazon Mechanical Turk. The survey measured levels of cannabis use, other substance use, motives and expectations of cannabis use, symptoms of psychosis, depression, anxiety and stress, and reckless behavior such as getting high before work or driving under the influence of cannabis. Latent class analysis was performed using motives and expectations to identify data driven patterns of regular cannabis use. Classes were then used to investigate mental health and behavioral correlates of differences in motives and expectations.Results: A 2-class solution provided the best fit to the data; Class 1: Low Motives and Expectancies (n = 158) characterized by lower endorsement across all motivation and expectation variables, and Class 2: High Motives and Expectancies (n = 171) characterized by endorsing multiple motivations, and higher positive and negative expectations of cannabis use. Classes differed in a range of cannabis use variables; e.g., greater proportion of peer use in Class 2. The High Motives and Expectancies users reported higher symptoms of psychosis (positive and negative symptoms), depression, anxiety, and stress. A higher proportion met the criteria for a cannabis use disorder compared with Low Motives and Expectancies users. High Motives and Expectancies users reported higher mean problems with nicotine dependence and illicit drug use other than cannabis and were more likely to get high before work and drive under the influence of cannabis.Conclusions: There is heterogeneity among young regular cannabis users in their motivations and expectancies of use and associated psychosocial functioning. Understanding motives and expectancies can help segregate which users are at higher risk of worse functioning. These findings are timely when designing targeted assessment and treatment strategies, particularly as cannabis is further decriminalized and accessibility increases.
Highlights
Cannabis, known as marijuana, is the most widely consumed illicit substance worldwide, among young adults [1]
Despite past research indicating attention levels are similar across Mechanical Turk (MTurk), convenience sampling and high-quality sampling methods [51], we embedded validity item checks designed to test if the participant was paying attention to further increase the quality of data collected
Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Akaike Information Criteria; BIC, Bayesian Information Criterion; VLMR, Vuong-LoMendell-Rubin Likelihood Ratio Test; Lo–Mendell– Rubin (LMR), Lo-Mendell-Rubin Adjusted LRT Test; p-value testing the null hypothesis that a model with one less class has better fit
Summary
Known as marijuana, is the most widely consumed illicit substance worldwide, among young adults [1]. Young adults with cannabis abuse or dependence represent 7.5% of the total population and 62.5% of all those with cannabis use disorders [2]. The potency of cannabis products has increased, which has been linked to poorer psychosocial functioning [3, 4]. Whilst laws that support the legalization of cannabis try to achieve social justice aims (e.g., reducing the prison population) and generate tax revenue, cannabis-related psychosocial harms are at risk to increase contributing to a greater burden of disease, such as increased hospital admissions, and higher social and economic damage [6, 7]. The association between user profiles and psychosocial functioning among only regular users remains unexplored. This exploration is important to improve public education efforts and design tailor treatment approaches
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
