Among 260 college students in Mumbai, 11.2% used cannabis, peer pressure was the top reason for starting, 81% opposed legalization, and over half were unaware of cannabis-related legal issues.
Campus health educators, substance use prevention researchers, Indian public health professionals
72% of users were introduced to cannabis by friends
What the researchers found
Among 260 college students in Mumbai, 11.2% reported cannabis use and 15% expressed desire to try it. Friends introduced 72% of users to cannabis. Top reasons for use were peer pressure (29.6%), stress reduction (23.5%), and experimentation (21.9%). Despite 81% opposing legalization, more than half of all participants were unaware of cannabis-related legal issues. Users viewed cannabis as less harmful and addictive than non-users did.
Why it matters
The combination of low legal awareness, high peer influence, and a perception gap between users and non-users about harm suggests that campus prevention efforts need to go beyond "just say no" messaging to address knowledge gaps and social dynamics.
The numbers in context
n=260; 11.2% cannabis users; 72% introduced by friends; 29.6% cited peer pressure; 23.5% stress reduction; 81% opposed legalization; >50% unaware of legal issues; 15% expressed desire to try
How the study worked
Cross-sectional study across multiple colleges in Mumbai, India. 260 students aged 18-25 selected by systematic random sampling. Self-administered questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes, and use patterns analyzed with SPSS.
What this study cannot tell us
Small sample (n=260) from one city limits generalizability across India. Self-reported use may underestimate prevalence given legal status. Cross-sectional design cannot establish causal relationships between attitudes and use.
How to read the evidence
Small cross-sectional survey from a single city provides preliminary descriptive data with limited generalizability.
When this study was published
2025 publication
The bigger picture
Cannabis use among Indian college students follows similar social patterns seen globally: peer introduction, stress as a motivator, and a disconnect between legal knowledge and use behavior. The finding that most students oppose legalization yet lack legal knowledge mirrors patterns found in US studies.
Questions still open
- Would campus-based education about cannabis legal consequences reduce initiation? How does cannabis use among Indian college students compare to other substance use rates?
Common questions
Why do Indian college students start using cannabis?
Did users and non-users view cannabis differently?
Read the original research
Knowledge and attitude of college students towards cannabis use in urban India: A comparative perspective of users and non-users.
The National medical journal of India, 38(2), 78-83
Citation
Ali, Enub; Sachdeva, Ankur; Thakur, Avinash; Khullar, Shilpa; Das, Padmini; Abbas, S Zafar. (2025). Knowledge and attitude of college students towards cannabis use in urban India: A comparative perspective of users and non-users.. The National medical journal of India, 38(2), 78-83. https://doi.org/10.25259/NMJI_451_2023
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