How Cannabis Use Motives Shift as Problems Get Worse

Elevated anxious affect was associated with coping motives and longer intoxication, but only among those with more severe cannabis use problems. Positive affect predicted enhancement motives across the full sample, with this association stronger for those with fewer problems. However, positive reinforcement continued in those with more severe problems, contradicting the multistage model that predicts negative reinforcement dominates.

EMA study with 571 young adult females (77.6% sexual minority/gender diverse) who regularly used cannabis. Two observations per day for 14 days. Tested whether cannabis use problem severity moderated associations between affect, motives, intoxication duration, and consequences.

The standard addiction model says negative reinforcement (using to escape bad feelings) takes over as addiction worsens. This study shows that's only partly true for cannabis — people with problems do use to cope more when anxious, but they also continue seeking enhancement, suggesting treatment needs to address both motivations.

This challenges a clean progression from 'using for fun' to 'using to escape.' In reality, both motivations coexist even in people with cannabis problems, which means treatment approaches focusing only on coping skills for negative emotions miss the enhancement component.

Same sample as 08243 — predominantly sexual minority women/gender diverse. 14-day window. Self-reported motives may not reflect actual processes. Cannabis use problems assessed at baseline only. Can't establish temporal ordering within same-survey reports.