National survey mapped where Americans use cannabis and whether homes have rules about it
A nationally representative US survey found most cannabis use occurs at home, with many users reporting no household rules restricting indoor use, raising secondhand exposure concerns.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis was most commonly used at home, and many households lacked rules restricting indoor cannabis use. This creates potential secondhand and thirdhand exposure risks for non-users including children.
Key Numbers
Nationally representative US sample from 2020. Most cannabis use occurred at home. Many households reported no rules restricting indoor cannabis combustion or aerosolization.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of the Marijuana Use and Environmental Survey 2020, a nationally representative US survey. Examined locations of cannabis use, presence of other people during use, and household rules about cannabis.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis legalization expands, understanding where people use and who is exposed secondhand is critical for public health policy, particularly regarding children and non-consenting adults.
The Bigger Picture
Smoke-free home norms developed over decades for tobacco have not equivalently transferred to cannabis. As cannabis becomes legal in more states, secondhand cannabis smoke exposure may increase without corresponding public health messaging.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional survey with self-reported data. Social desirability may affect reporting. Survey conducted in 2020 during COVID-19, which may have increased home-based use. Cannot measure actual secondhand exposure levels from survey data alone.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would public health campaigns promoting cannabis-free indoor air norms reduce secondhand exposure?
- ?How do cannabis home-use patterns differ between legalized and non-legalized states?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Most cannabis use occurred at home; many households had no restriction rules
- Evidence Grade:
- Nationally representative survey with appropriate methodology. Limited by self-report and cross-sectional design.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023. Survey data from 2020.
- Original Title:
- Location and home rules of cannabis use - Findings from marijuana use and environmental survey 2020, a nationally representative survey in the United States.
- Published In:
- Preventive medicine reports, 35, 102289 (2023)
- Authors:
- Tripathi, Osika(6), Bellettiere, John(7), Liles, Sandy(7), Shi, Yuyan
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04988
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is secondhand cannabis smoke harmful?
Cannabis combustion produces many of the same harmful byproducts as tobacco smoke. While research on secondhand cannabis exposure is less extensive than for tobacco, the shared chemistry of combustion suggests similar concerns, particularly for children and people with respiratory conditions.
Where do most people use cannabis?
This national survey found that home was the most common location for cannabis use. Many cannabis users reported that their households had no rules restricting indoor use, creating potential exposure for other household members including children.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04988APA
Tripathi, Osika; Bellettiere, John; Liles, Sandy; Shi, Yuyan. (2023). Location and home rules of cannabis use - Findings from marijuana use and environmental survey 2020, a nationally representative survey in the United States.. Preventive medicine reports, 35, 102289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102289
MLA
Tripathi, Osika, et al. "Location and home rules of cannabis use - Findings from marijuana use and environmental survey 2020, a nationally representative survey in the United States.." Preventive medicine reports, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102289
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Location and home rules of cannabis use - Findings from mari..." RTHC-04988. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/tripathi-2023-location-and-home-rules
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.