Social class, race, and gender shaped whether marijuana promoted or harmed well-being among Brazilians
A survey of 2,637 Brazilian adults found that the well-being effects of marijuana use and its prohibition varied sharply by race, gender, income, and education, with Indigenous peoples and youth most affected by criminalization.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 2,637 respondents, using marijuana for fun was most common among self-identified males, trans/non-binary people, college graduates, and higher-income individuals. Indigenous peoples and youth were most likely to report trouble with police due to marijuana. Higher education and longer use predicted more harm reduction strategies. Women and higher-income individuals were less likely to report daily use. Living with family and less frequent use protected against negative effects of intoxication.
Key Numbers
2,637 respondents; Indigenous peoples and youth most affected by policing; higher education associated with more harm reduction; women and higher income less likely to use daily; living with family protective
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study using anonymous online questionnaire in Brazil with 2,637 respondents. Logistic regression analyzed predictors of well-being including use benefits, prohibition risks, and harm reduction strategies across socioeconomic characteristics.
Why This Research Matters
In a country where marijuana remains criminalized, the harms of prohibition fall disproportionately on marginalized populations, adding a social justice dimension to cannabis policy debates.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis prohibition does not affect everyone equally. When enforcement disproportionately harms Indigenous, young, and lower-income populations, the policy itself becomes a determinant of health inequity.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Online convenience sample likely skews toward educated, connected populations. Self-reported well-being is subjective. Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation. Brazilian context may not generalize.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would decriminalization in Brazil reduce the racial and socioeconomic disparities in prohibition harms?
- ?Do harm reduction strategies mediate the relationship between marijuana use and well-being?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Indigenous peoples and youth most likely to face police trouble from marijuana use
- Evidence Grade:
- Large survey with regression analysis, but online convenience sample and cross-sectional design limit generalizability and causal conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023
- Original Title:
- Use of Marijuana to Promote Well-Being: Effects of Use and Prohibition in the Daily Lives of Brazilian Adults.
- Published In:
- Substance abuse : research and treatment, 17, 11782218231162469 (2023)
- Authors:
- de Lima E Silva Surjus, Luciana Togni, Dainesi, Natália Cavalcante, de Souza, Felipe Granado
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04493
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does marijuana prohibition affect everyone equally in Brazil?
No. Indigenous peoples and youth were most likely to report trouble with police, while people with higher education used more harm reduction strategies, indicating that prohibition harms fall disproportionately on marginalized groups.
Who uses marijuana for well-being in Brazil?
Using marijuana for fun was most common among males, trans/non-binary individuals, college graduates, and those with higher incomes. Women and higher-income people were less likely to use daily.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04493APA
de Lima E Silva Surjus, Luciana Togni; Dainesi, Natália Cavalcante; de Souza, Felipe Granado. (2023). Use of Marijuana to Promote Well-Being: Effects of Use and Prohibition in the Daily Lives of Brazilian Adults.. Substance abuse : research and treatment, 17, 11782218231162469. https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218231162469
MLA
de Lima E Silva Surjus, Luciana Togni, et al. "Use of Marijuana to Promote Well-Being: Effects of Use and Prohibition in the Daily Lives of Brazilian Adults.." Substance abuse : research and treatment, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218231162469
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Use of Marijuana to Promote Well-Being: Effects of Use and P..." RTHC-04493. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/de-2023-use-of-marijuana-to
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.