Cannabis Use Predicts Food Insecurity — And the Link Is Stronger for Parents
Cannabis use predicted food insecurity 6-12 months later, food insecurity predicted cannabis use and higher spending on cannabis, and both associations were stronger among parents than non-parents.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
W1 cannabis use predicted W2 food insecurity (AOR=1.62); W2 food insecurity predicted W2 cannabis use (AOR=1.44), greater cannabis expenditures (AOR=1.44), and greater impact of cost on use (AOR=1.92); associations were stronger among parents.
Key Numbers
3,437 young adults; 46.6% used cannabis (W1); 48.2% food insecure (W2); 22.9% both; cannabis→food insecurity AOR=1.62; food insecurity→cannabis use AOR=1.44; food insecurity→cost impact AOR=1.92.
How They Did This
Two-wave longitudinal survey of 3,437 US young adults (ages 18-34) from 2023-2024, examining bidirectional associations between cannabis use and food insecurity with logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographics.
Why This Research Matters
The bidirectional relationship means cannabis use can contribute to food insecurity AND food insecurity can drive cannabis use — creating a cycle that particularly threatens families with children.
The Bigger Picture
With cannabis spending competing with food budgets, and food insecurity driving substance use as coping, addressing either problem requires understanding the other — especially for young families.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported data; two waves may not capture full temporal dynamics; food insecurity has many causes beyond cannabis spending; legal status varies by state.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would cannabis cost reduction (e.g., through legalization lowering prices) worsen or improve the food insecurity link?
- ?Should food assistance programs screen for cannabis use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Longitudinal design with appropriate adjustment and parental status moderation, though self-report and two-wave design limit causal conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2026 with 2023-2024 data, reflecting post-pandemic economic pressures on young adults.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis Use and Food Insecurity Risk Among U.S. Adults With And Without Children.
- Published In:
- American journal of preventive medicine, 70(2), 107740 (2026)
- Authors:
- Chakraborty, Rishika(11), Headrick, Gabby, Romm, Katelyn F(14), Wang, Yan, McCready, Darcey M, Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A, Schubel, Laura C, Speer, Morgan, Yang, Y Tony, Berg, Carla J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08159
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis use cause food insecurity?
This study found cannabis use predicted food insecurity 6-12 months later, and vice versa — suggesting a bidirectional cycle where spending on cannabis competes with food budgets while food stress drives substance use.
Are parents more affected?
Yes — the associations between cannabis use and food insecurity were significantly stronger among parents than non-parents, raising concerns about child welfare impacts.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08159APA
Chakraborty, Rishika; Headrick, Gabby; Romm, Katelyn F; Wang, Yan; McCready, Darcey M; Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A; Schubel, Laura C; Speer, Morgan; Yang, Y Tony; Berg, Carla J. (2026). Cannabis Use and Food Insecurity Risk Among U.S. Adults With And Without Children.. American journal of preventive medicine, 70(2), 107740. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2025.107740
MLA
Chakraborty, Rishika, et al. "Cannabis Use and Food Insecurity Risk Among U.S. Adults With And Without Children.." American journal of preventive medicine, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2025.107740
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis Use and Food Insecurity Risk Among U.S. Adults With..." RTHC-08159. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/chakraborty-2026-cannabis-use-and-food
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.