Most Indian college students opposed cannabis legalization and lacked knowledge of its harms and legal status

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.