Interviews with 50 young sexual and gender minority men in Vancouver revealed cannabis use was deeply intertwined with mental health management, including coping with anxiety during sex, substituting for harder drugs, and self-treating depression, though some experienced adverse effects.
Public health professionals, harm reduction workers, and anyone interested in how marginalized populations use cannabis in the context of broader mental health and substance use challenges.
50 participants interviewed
What the researchers found
Three themes emerged: (1) cannabis was used to cope with mental health symptoms during sexual encounters and to replace riskier drugs in chemsex practices; (2) cannabis was used instrumentally to alleviate depression and trauma-related symptoms; (3) some participants experienced adverse effects including paranoia and concerns about dependence.
Why it matters
Sexual and gender minority men face elevated rates of both substance use and mental health challenges. Understanding why this population uses cannabis, including as a harm reduction strategy for harder drug use, is essential for developing appropriate support services.
The numbers in context
50 participants; ages 15-30; interviews conducted over 12 months in Vancouver, Canada; 3 major themes identified
How the study worked
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 50 sexual and gender minority men aged 15-30 in Vancouver, Canada, conducted January-December 2018. Thematic analysis applied to interview data.
What this study cannot tell us
Qualitative design with a single city sample. Self-selected participants may not represent all SGM men. Cannot establish causal relationships between cannabis use and mental health outcomes.
How to read the evidence
Qualitative study providing rich contextual data but cannot establish generalizable patterns or causal relationships.
When this study was published
Published in 2021 with data from 2018; cannabis legalization in Canada may have shifted usage patterns.
The bigger picture
The finding that some participants used cannabis to replace methamphetamine and MDMA in chemsex contexts reframes cannabis use from a simple risk behavior to a potential harm reduction strategy. This complicates one-size-fits-all prevention messages.
Questions still open
- Should harm reduction programs formally support cannabis substitution for harder drugs among SGM men? How can mental health services better address the interconnected patterns of substance use, sexual health, and mental health in this population?
Common questions
Why did participants use cannabis during sex?
Did cannabis replace harder drugs?
Read the original research
Cannabis use and mental health among young sexual and gender minority men: A qualitative study.
The International journal on drug policy, 91, 102980
Citation
Parent, Natasha; Coulaud, Pierre-Julien; Amirie, Muhamed; Ferlatte, Olivier; Knight, Rod. (2021). Cannabis use and mental health among young sexual and gender minority men: A qualitative study.. The International journal on drug policy, 91, 102980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102980
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