Among 254 Black American cigarette smokers, experiencing more frequent racism was associated with more cannabis-related problems, with the emotional distress specifically caused by racist experiences (not general anxiety or depression) driving this association.
Addiction counselors working with Black communities, health disparities researchers, culturally responsive treatment developers
Racism-specific emotional distress, not general anxiety, drove the link between racism and cannabis problems
What the researchers found
More frequent racism predicted greater cannabis-related problems. This relationship was mediated by negative emotions specifically tied to racial experiences (measured by the Racial Trauma Scale), but not by general anxiety or depression. There was also a sequential pathway: racism led to racial trauma emotions, which led to increased cannabis quantity, which led to more cannabis problems.
Why it matters
Black Americans face health disparities in cannabis-related outcomes despite similar use rates to other groups. This study identifies a specific mechanism: the emotional toll of racism, distinct from general mental health symptoms, may drive cannabis misuse, suggesting that culturally specific interventions addressing racial stress could reduce disparities.
The numbers in context
254 participants; 50.2% female; mean age 42.1; racism frequency linked to cannabis problems via Racial Trauma Scale (RTS) emotions; general anxiety and depression did not mediate the relationship; sequential pathway: racism to RTS to greater cannabis quantity to more problems
How the study worked
254 Black Americans (50.2% female, ages 18-73, mean age 42.1) who smoked cigarettes completed online surveys measuring racism frequency, racial trauma emotions, general anxiety/depression, smoking, and cannabis-related behaviors.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design cannot prove causation, all participants were cigarette smokers limiting generalizability, online survey with self-report measures, cannot determine temporal ordering of racism experiences and cannabis use, potential for recall bias
How to read the evidence
Moderate-sized cross-sectional study with specific mediation analysis; important finding but cigarette-smoker sample and cross-sectional limitations
When this study was published
Published 2025
The bigger picture
Substance use disparities among Black Americans are often attributed to structural factors like incarceration and poverty. This study adds a psychological mechanism: the specific emotional burden of experiencing racism may independently contribute to problematic cannabis use, suggesting an intervention target.
Questions still open
- Would interventions addressing racial trauma reduce cannabis-related problems? Do similar pathways exist for Black Americans who do not smoke cigarettes? How do structural factors (discrimination in housing, employment) interact with interpersonal racism in predicting cannabis outcomes?
Common questions
Does racism affect cannabis use among Black Americans?
How might racism lead to cannabis problems?
Read the original research
Racism and cannabis-related problems among Black adults who smoke cigarettes: The role of negative emotions in responses to experiencing racism.
Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 33(2), 155-161
Citation
Buckner, Julia D; Sullivan, Jas M; Buenrostro, Christopher M; Clausen, Bryce; Zvolensky, Michael J. (2025). Racism and cannabis-related problems among Black adults who smoke cigarettes: The role of negative emotions in responses to experiencing racism.. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 33(2), 155-161. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000759
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