Racism-Related Emotional Distress Was Linked to Cannabis Problems Among Black Americans
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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
Questions This Raises
- ?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?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Racism-specific emotional distress, not general anxiety, drove the link between racism and cannabis problems
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate-sized cross-sectional study with specific mediation analysis; important finding but cigarette-smoker sample and cross-sectional limitations
- Study Age:
- Published 2025
- Original Title:
- Racism and cannabis-related problems among Black adults who smoke cigarettes: The role of negative emotions in responses to experiencing racism.
- Published In:
- Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 33(2), 155-161 (2025)
- Authors:
- Buckner, Julia D(11), Sullivan, Jas M, Buenrostro, Christopher M(2), Clausen, Bryce, Zvolensky, Michael J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06133
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does racism affect cannabis use among Black Americans?
In this study, more frequent racism was associated with more cannabis-related problems. Critically, it was the specific emotional distress from racist experiences (not general anxiety or depression) that drove this association.
How might racism lead to cannabis problems?
The study found a pathway: experiencing racism causes specific emotional distress, which leads to using more cannabis (possibly to cope), which leads to more cannabis-related problems.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06133APA
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
MLA
Buckner, Julia D, et al. "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, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000759
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Racism and cannabis-related problems among Black adults who ..." RTHC-06133. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/buckner-2025-racism-and-cannabisrelated-problems
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.