Young Adults in Colorado Judge Cannabis and Tobacco Harms Through Five Key Lenses | Research

The takeaway

Young adults in legal-market Colorado evaluated substance harms through five dimensions: combustion, potency, chemicals, addiction type, and information source, often concluding that "natural" products are safer.

Readers interested in how young people think about cannabis versus tobacco risks.

Young adults viewed "natural" marijuana as safer than tobacco despite both producing harmful smoke compounds

What the researchers found

Through 32 in-depth interviews with young adults aged 18-26 in Denver who used tobacco, marijuana, or vaporizers, researchers identified five dimensions these users applied when evaluating harms and benefits.

Combustion: smoking anything was considered more harmful than non-combustible forms (edibles, vaporizers). Potency: edibles and marijuana concentrates were seen as more potentially harmful due to overdose risk from getting too much THC. Chemicals: products with additives were considered more harmful than "pure" or "natural" plant products. Addiction: participants recognized physical nicotine addiction but described marijuana dependence as mainly psychological or lifestyle-related. Source of knowledge: personal experience, warning labels, media, retailer opinions, and medical advice all shaped perceptions.

Participants generally viewed marijuana as more "natural" and therefore safer than tobacco, a perception the authors suggest could be misleading given that marijuana smoke also contains harmful chemicals.

Why it matters

Understanding how young adults reason about substance risks is essential for designing effective health education. The finding that many users equate "natural" with "safe" suggests a gap in health messaging. The potency dimension is particularly relevant as concentrates and edibles become more prevalent in legal markets.

The numbers in context

32 participants aged 18-26 in Denver, CO. Five dimensions of harm evaluation identified. Participants used tobacco, marijuana, and/or vaporizers.

How the study worked

Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 32 young adults aged 18-26 in Denver, Colorado who used tobacco, marijuana, or vaporizers. Interviews covered perceived harms and benefits and personal experiences. Data were analyzed thematically.

What this study cannot tell us

Small qualitative sample (32 participants) from a single city in the first legal recreational market. Findings reflect the specific cultural context of Denver in the early legalization period. Qualitative research identifies themes but cannot quantify how prevalent each belief is in the broader population.

How to read the evidence

Preliminary evidence from a small qualitative study in a single location.

When this study was published

Published in 2017. Conducted in the early years of Colorado's recreational market.

The bigger picture

As legal cannabis markets mature, young adults develop their own frameworks for evaluating risk that may not align with scientific evidence. The "natural = safe" heuristic, in particular, persists despite evidence that marijuana smoke contains many of the same harmful compounds as tobacco smoke. Health campaigns that engage with these existing mental models, rather than simply contradicting them, may be more effective.

Questions still open

Have young adult perceptions shifted as legal markets have matured? Do health education campaigns that address the "natural = safe" belief change behavior? How do perceptions of concentrate and edible risks affect actual use patterns?

Common questions

Is marijuana really safer than tobacco?

This study explored perceptions, not actual safety. Participants generally believed marijuana was safer because it is "natural," but marijuana smoke contains many of the same harmful chemicals as tobacco smoke. The health risks differ between the substances, and the route of consumption matters significantly.

Why were edibles seen as potentially more harmful?

Participants recognized that edibles carry a risk of consuming too much THC because the effects are delayed, making it easy to take more before the first dose kicks in. This potency-related concern is distinct from combustion-related harms.

Read the original research

Perceived harms and benefits of tobacco, marijuana, and electronic vaporizers among young adults in Colorado: implications for health education and research.

Addiction (Abingdon, England), 112(10), 1821-1829

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Popova, Lucy; McDonald, Emily Anne; Sidhu, Sohrab; Barry, Rachel; Richers Maruyama, Tracey A; Sheon, Nicolas M; Ling, Pamela M. (2017). Perceived harms and benefits of tobacco, marijuana, and electronic vaporizers among young adults in Colorado: implications for health education and research.. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 112(10), 1821-1829. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13854