In a study of 51 daily legal cannabis users, risk-seeking personality predicted more negative consequences, while positive urgency (acting impulsively when feeling good) unexpectedly predicted fewer consequences.
Daily cannabis users, addiction researchers, clinicians assessing cannabis-related risk
Risk-seeking personality predicted more negative consequences in daily users
What the researchers found
Among daily legal cannabis users, risk-seeking personality was significantly positively associated with negative cannabis-related consequences. Surprisingly, positive urgency (acting impulsively when feeling good) was significantly negatively associated with consequences, opposite to expectations. Other impulsivity and sensation-seeking facets were not significantly associated.
Why it matters
Most impulsivity research on cannabis consequences focuses on people with problematic use or in illegal markets. This study suggests that among daily users in a legal market, the personality factors that predict negative outcomes may differ from what previous research found in other populations.
The numbers in context
N=51 community adults with daily legal cannabis use. Risk-seeking significantly positively predicted negative consequences. Positive urgency significantly negatively predicted negative consequences. All other personality facets: not significant.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional study of 51 community adults with daily legal cannabis use, using two multiple regression models predicting negative cannabis-related consequences from impulsivity facets and sensation-seeking facets.
What this study cannot tell us
Very small sample (N=51) limits statistical power and generalizability. Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation. Community convenience sample. Did not control for type of cannabis product, dose, or context of use.
How to read the evidence
Preliminary evidence from a very small cross-sectional study of daily cannabis users in a legal market.
When this study was published
2025 study examining personality predictors in daily legal cannabis users.
The bigger picture
As cannabis becomes legal in more jurisdictions, understanding what drives negative consequences among daily users in legal markets becomes increasingly important. The unexpected finding about positive urgency suggests that impulsivity may function differently in established daily users than in occasional or problematic users.
Questions still open
- Why did positive urgency predict fewer negative consequences among daily users? Do established daily cannabis users develop behavioral strategies that reduce impulsivity-related consequences? Would these patterns hold in a larger sample?
Common questions
Does impulsivity predict cannabis problems?
Who is most at risk for negative consequences from daily use?
Read the original research
Daily Cannabis Use: Do Impulsivity and Sensation Seeking Predict Negative Cannabis Related Consequences?
Journal of drug issues, 55(3)
Citation
Parnes, Jamie E; Tyskiewicz, Alexander J; Prince, Mark A; Conner, Bradley T. (2025). Daily Cannabis Use: Do Impulsivity and Sensation Seeking Predict Negative Cannabis Related Consequences?. Journal of drug issues, 55(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/00220426231226221
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