White and Hispanic cannabis-alcohol co-users in California primarily consume at home — either alone/with family or with friends — with minimal racial/ethnic differences in usage contexts despite different epidemiological profiles.
Public health officials, substance use interventionists, and cannabis policy researchers in diverse communities
What the researchers found
Among 1,069 California adults, alcohol-cannabis co-use occurred primarily at home (alone/with family or with friends); race/ethnicity and co-use type (concurrent vs. simultaneous) did not significantly affect consumption context patterns.
Why it matters
Understanding where people co-use substances informs policy about public consumption, home delivery, and context-specific interventions — the finding that contexts are similar across groups simplifies targeting.
The numbers in context
1,069 adults; ages 21-49; 40 California cities; two primary settings: home alone/with family and home with friends; no significant race/ethnicity or co-use type effects on context.
How the study worked
Household survey of 1,069 adults aged 21-49 in 40 California cities, using standardized online questionnaire to assess alcohol and cannabis use contexts, with controlled analyses for demographic correlates.
What this study cannot tell us
California-only; ages 21-49 exclude older adults and youth; online survey may miss certain populations; context categories may not capture all relevant settings.
How to read the evidence
Adequate household survey with controlled analyses, but California-specific and limited age range restrict generalizability.
When this study was published
Published in 2026, reflecting current co-use patterns in a mature legal cannabis market.
The bigger picture
The home-centered nature of co-use has implications for public consumption bans — most combined use is already happening in private settings where such policies have limited reach.
Questions still open
- Would context-based interventions work equally across racial/ethnic groups despite similar epidemiological profiles? How does home-based co-use affect family members?
Common questions
Where do people typically use alcohol and cannabis together?
Does race affect where people co-use alcohol and cannabis?
Read the original research
Contexts of drinking and cannabis use by Whites and Hispanics in California.
Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse, 1-22
Citation
Caetano, Raul; Paschall, M J; Vaeth, Patrice A C; Kaplan, Zoe. (2026). Contexts of drinking and cannabis use by Whites and Hispanics in California.. Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332640.2025.2576728