Journal article
Medicinal cannabis use among young adults during California's transition from legalized medical use to adult-use: a longitudinal analysis
The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, v 50(2), pp 1-13
26 Feb 2024
PMID: 38407837
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
In 2016, California transitioned from legalized medical cannabis use to adult-use. Little is known about how this policy change affected medicinal cannabis use among young adults.
To identify longitudinal groups of medicinal cannabis users and concurrent changes in health- and cannabis use-related characteristics among young adults in Los Angeles between 2014 and 2021.
Cannabis users (210 patients and 156 non-patients; 34% female; ages 18-26 at baseline) were surveyed annually across six waves. Longitudinal latent class analysis derived groups from two factors - cannabis patient status and self-reported medicinal use. Trajectories of health symptoms, cannabis use motives, and cannabis use (daily/near daily use, concentrate use, and problematic use) were estimated across groups.
Three longitudinal latent classes emerged: Recreational Users (39.3%) - low self-reported medicinal use and low-to-decreasing patient status; Recreational Patients (40.4%) - low self-reported medicinal use and high-to-decreasing patient status; Medicinal Patients (20.3%) - high self-reported medicinal use and high-to-decreasing patient status. At baseline, Medicinal Patients had higher levels of physical health symptoms and motives than recreational groups (
< .05); both patient groups reported higher level of daily/near daily and concentrate use (
< .01). Over time, mental health symptoms increased in recreational groups (
< .05) and problematic cannabis use increased among Recreational Patients (
< .01).
During the transition to legalized adult-use, patterns of medicinal cannabis use varied among young adults. Clinicians should monitor increases in mental health symptoms and cannabis-related problems among young adults who report recreational - but not medicinal - cannabis use.
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Details
- Title
- Medicinal cannabis use among young adults during California's transition from legalized medical use to adult-use: a longitudinal analysis
- Creators
- Janna Ataiants (Corresponding Author) - Drexel UniversityCarolyn F Wong - Children's Hospital of Los AngelesOmolola A Odejimi - University of Nevada, Las VegasEkaterina V Fedorova - Drexel UniversityBridgid M Conn - University of Southern CaliforniaStephen E Lankenau - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, v 50(2), pp 1-13
- Publisher
- Taylor and Francis
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Health Collaborative; Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001177473600001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85186615359
- Other Identifier
- 991021858115604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychology, Clinical
- Substance Abuse