Preteens who experienced racial or ethnic discrimination were more likely to intend to use cannabis, partly because discrimination increased their perception that cannabis was easy to get and less harmful.
Youth substance use prevention researchers, school counselors working with diverse populations, public health professionals addressing health disparities.
What the researchers found
Using structural equation modeling with data from 2,690 preteens (ages 9–13) in the ABCD Study, researchers traced a pathway from racial/ethnic discrimination to cannabis use intention.
The direct effect was significant: experiencing discrimination was associated with higher cannabis use intention (β = 0.068). But the study also identified two mediating pathways that explained part of this relationship.
First, discrimination was associated with higher perceived cannabis accessibility (β = 0.134) — children who experienced discrimination perceived cannabis as easier to obtain. Second, perceived accessibility was associated with lower perceived harm (β = −0.123) — when children thought cannabis was easy to get, they tended to view it as less dangerous. And lower perceived harm predicted higher use intention (β = −0.085).
This chain — discrimination → perceived accessibility → lower perceived harm → use intention — suggests that discrimination doesn't just create emotional distress that might lead to substance use; it may also reshape how young people perceive and evaluate cannabis in their environment.
Why it matters
Understanding why some young people move toward cannabis use is essential for prevention. This study identifies a modifiable pathway: if discrimination changes how young people perceive cannabis accessibility and harm, then interventions targeting those perceptions — or addressing discrimination itself — could reduce risk before cannabis use begins.
The numbers in context
2,690 preteens ages 9–13 from the ABCD Study. Direct discrimination → intention: β = 0.068. Discrimination → accessibility: β = 0.134. Accessibility → harm perception: β = −0.123. Harm perception → intention: β = −0.085. All paths statistically significant.
How the study worked
Longitudinal cohort analysis using ABCD Study Release 4.0 data. 2,690 preteens ages 9–13. Structural equation modeling tested direct and indirect (mediated) pathways between racial/ethnic discrimination, perceived cannabis accessibility, perceived cannabis harm, and cannabis use intention. Adjusted for covariates.
Who was studied
N=2,690 preteens aged 9-13, diverse ethnic backgrounds, US study.
What this study cannot tell us
Use intention is not the same as actual use — many preteens who intend to use cannabis never do. Cross-sectional mediation analysis in a longitudinal dataset limits causal interpretation. Self-reported discrimination and cannabis perceptions are subjective measures. ABCD Study participants may not represent all preteens, particularly those from the most marginalized communities.
How to read the evidence
Longitudinal cohort data analyzed with structural equation modeling — identifies plausible mediation pathways but cannot fully establish causal direction.
When this study was published
Published in 2026 using ABCD Study data, studying a population that is now entering the age range where cannabis initiation typically begins.
The bigger picture
This study connects racial discrimination — a social determinant of health — to the cannabis use initiation pipeline. The social equity analysis (RTHC-00232) showed that communities most affected by cannabis enforcement are the same ones with the least access to legal industry participation. This preteen study adds a developmental dimension: discrimination may increase cannabis vulnerability in children from these same communities before they're old enough to use, creating a cycle where enforcement-impacted communities face both greater exposure and greater risk.
Replication
Not stated in abstract.
Funding
Not reported in abstract.
Conflicts of interest
Not reported in abstract.
Questions still open
- Does the discrimination → accessibility → harm → intention pathway translate into actual cannabis use as these children enter adolescence? Would school-based programs that address discrimination-related trauma reduce cannabis use intentions? Do these mediation pathways differ across racial/ethnic groups?
Read the original research
Pathways from racial/ethnic discrimination experience to cannabis use intentions: a longitudinal study of the mediating roles of perceived accessibility and harm among preteens.
Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse, 1-14
The Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse is a peer-reviewed journal focusing on substance use and its relationship with ethnic and racial issues.
Citation
Ou, Tzung-Shiang; Wong, Su-Wei; Yang, Meng; Lin, Hsien-Chang. (2026). Pathways from racial/ethnic discrimination experience to cannabis use intentions: a longitudinal study of the mediating roles of perceived accessibility and harm among preteens.. Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332640.2025.2612339
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