Having Cannabis-Using Parents Nearly Triples Young Adults' Odds of Using Cannabis
Young adults with cannabis-using parents were 2.9 times more likely to use cannabis themselves, and becoming a parent only reduced use among those without cannabis-using parents.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Having cannabis-using parents (aOR = 2.90) and having children (aOR = 1.37) were both independently associated with past-month cannabis use. Becoming a parent was protective only among those without cannabis-using parents.
Key Numbers
Cannabis-using parents: aOR = 2.90 (95% CI: 2.42-3.47). Having children: aOR = 1.37 (95% CI: 1.12-1.67).
How They Did This
Survey of 4,031 US young adults (mean age 26.29). Multivariable logistic regression examined parental cannabis use, having children, sociodemographics, psychosocial factors, and state legalization.
Why This Research Matters
If parental cannabis use normalizes the behavior so strongly that becoming a parent does not reduce use, interventions may need to target family-level norms.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis becomes more normalized across generations, the protective effect of parenthood on substance use may weaken.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine causation. Sample designed to oversample cannabis users (48.8%).
Questions This Raises
- ?Is intergenerational transmission driven by genetics, shared environment, modeling, or normalized attitudes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 2.9x higher odds of cannabis use among young adults with cannabis-using parents
- Evidence Grade:
- Large cross-sectional survey with robust statistical modeling; moderate because of sample design and cross-sectional limitations.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication using 2023 survey data
- Original Title:
- Indicators of Intergenerational Transmission of Cannabis Use Among US Young Adults.
- Published In:
- Substance use & addiction journal, 46(4), 960-971 (2025)
- Authors:
- Cui, Yuxian(13), Wang, Yan(20), LoParco, Cassidy R(26), Romm, Katelyn F, Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A, Chakraborty, Rishika, McCready, Darcey M, Yang, Y Tony, Berg, Carla J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06275
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does having cannabis-using parents mean someone will definitely use cannabis?
No. The study found nearly three times higher odds, but many young adults with cannabis-using parents do not use cannabis.
Why did becoming a parent not reduce cannabis use in some groups?
Among those whose own parents used cannabis, becoming a parent did not reduce use. Growing up with parental cannabis use may normalize it to a degree that overrides the typical parenthood effect.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06275APA
Cui, Yuxian; Wang, Yan; LoParco, Cassidy R; Romm, Katelyn F; Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A; Chakraborty, Rishika; McCready, Darcey M; Yang, Y Tony; Berg, Carla J. (2025). Indicators of Intergenerational Transmission of Cannabis Use Among US Young Adults.. Substance use & addiction journal, 46(4), 960-971. https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342251337212
MLA
Cui, Yuxian, et al. "Indicators of Intergenerational Transmission of Cannabis Use Among US Young Adults.." Substance use & addiction journal, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342251337212
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Indicators of Intergenerational Transmission of Cannabis Use..." RTHC-06275. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/cui-2025-indicators-of-intergenerational-transmission
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.