Young adults most impacted by legalization attitudes showed the heaviest cannabis use and most problems
Among 301 cannabis-using young adults in Los Angeles, those whose attitudes and behaviors were most impacted by legalization reported the greatest number of use days, hits per day, and problematic cannabis use scores.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Three groups emerged: Impacted (n=113), Partially-Impacted (n=131), and Neutral (n=57). Impacted individuals reported the most recent days of use, highest number of hits per day, and highest problematic use scores. Medical cannabis patients were more likely to be Neutral, while recreational users were more likely to be Impacted.
Key Numbers
Sample: 301 young adults. Three classes: Impacted (113), Partially-Impacted (131), Neutral (57). Impacted group had highest use days, hits/day, and problematic use scores.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional survey of 301 cannabis-using young adults in Los Angeles, interviewed 2017-2018 (after recreational legalization, through early retail sales). Used latent class analysis to identify groups based on attitudes about legalization impact, with cannabis practices and problematic use as distal outcomes.
Why This Research Matters
This study shows that attitudes toward legalization were not just opinions but were associated with actual use patterns and problem severity, providing an early look at how policy changes shape behavior.
The Bigger Picture
Understanding how different subgroups respond to legalization can help target harm reduction messaging to those whose use patterns are most influenced by policy changes.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine whether attitudes drove use or vice versa. LA-specific sample may not generalize. Self-reported measures. Early post-legalization period may not reflect longer-term patterns.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do the attitudes of the "Impacted" group normalize over time as legalization matures?
- ?Would targeted messaging to this group reduce problematic use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Young adults most impacted by legalization attitudes had the highest problematic use scores
- Evidence Grade:
- Innovative latent class analysis with a reasonable sample, but cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021 with data from 2017-2018.
- Original Title:
- Attitudes and beliefs about recreational cannabis legalization among cannabis-using young adults in Los Angeles: Impact on concurrent cannabis practices and problematic cannabis use.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 228, 109053 (2021)
- Authors:
- Wong, Carolyn F(15), Mendez, Stephanie E A, Conn, Bridgid M(9), Iverson, Ellen, Lankenau, Stephen E
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03619
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did cannabis legalization affect how much young adults used?
Young adults whose attitudes were most influenced by legalization reported the most use days and highest daily consumption, though the study cannot prove legalization caused the increase.
Were medical cannabis patients affected differently?
Yes. Medical patients were more likely to be in the "Neutral" group, meaning legalization had limited impact on their attitudes and use patterns.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03619APA
Wong, Carolyn F; Mendez, Stephanie E A; Conn, Bridgid M; Iverson, Ellen; Lankenau, Stephen E. (2021). Attitudes and beliefs about recreational cannabis legalization among cannabis-using young adults in Los Angeles: Impact on concurrent cannabis practices and problematic cannabis use.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 228, 109053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109053
MLA
Wong, Carolyn F, et al. "Attitudes and beliefs about recreational cannabis legalization among cannabis-using young adults in Los Angeles: Impact on concurrent cannabis practices and problematic cannabis use.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109053
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Attitudes and beliefs about recreational cannabis legalizati..." RTHC-03619. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/wong-2021-attitudes-and-beliefs-about
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.