Among 521 Hispanic/Latinx cannabis users, both perceived ethnic discrimination and negative emotional reactivity to minority stress independently predicted greater cannabis use problems and barriers to reducing use.
Addiction counselors serving Hispanic/Latinx clients, health equity researchers, public health professionals, and culturally-responsive treatment program designers.
What the researchers found
Perceived ethnic discrimination and negative emotional reactivity to minority stress each independently predicted higher cannabis use problems and greater perceived barriers to cannabis reduction. Minority stress also predicted enhancement, social, coping, and expansion motives for use, while discrimination predicted conformity motives. No interaction effects were found.
Why it matters
Hispanic/Latinx cannabis use is increasing, but research rarely addresses culturally specific factors. This study shows that experiences of discrimination and minority stress — not just individual factors — drive problematic cannabis use in this population.
The numbers in context
521 Hispanic/Latinx adults with past-month cannabis use. Both discrimination and minority stress independently predicted use problems and reduction barriers. Effects ranged from small to medium. No interactive effects.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional survey of 521 Hispanic/Latinx adults (mean age 36.5, 55% male) with past-month cannabis use, recruited through Qualtrics Panels, examining culturally relevant predictors of cannabis use processes.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design — discrimination may not cause cannabis problems. Online panel recruitment may not represent all Hispanic/Latinx cannabis users. Self-reported measures.
How to read the evidence
Novel focus on culturally relevant predictors with appropriate controls, but cross-sectional design and online panel recruitment limit generalizability.
When this study was published
Recent study addressing a significant gap in understanding culturally specific cannabis use factors in the growing Hispanic/Latinx population.
The bigger picture
Addressing cannabis use problems in minority populations requires understanding the role of discrimination and structural inequity. Standard substance use interventions that ignore these cultural factors may be less effective for Hispanic/Latinx individuals.
Questions still open
- Would interventions addressing discrimination experiences reduce cannabis use problems? Should cannabis treatment programs for Hispanic/Latinx individuals incorporate minority stress frameworks?
Common questions
Does discrimination affect cannabis use?
Why do minority stress factors matter for cannabis treatment?
Read the original research
Perceived Ethnic Discrimination and Negative Emotional Reactivity to Minority Stress: Association with Cannabis Use Processes Among United States Hispanic/Latinx Adults.
Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 8(3), 38-55
Citation
Zvolensky, Michael J; Clausen, Bryce K; Jones, Ava A; Castillo-Avilés, Rodrigo; Thai, Jessica M; Shepherd, Justin M; Bogiaizian, Lucas; Redmond, Brooke Y; Garey, Lorra. (2025). Perceived Ethnic Discrimination and Negative Emotional Reactivity to Minority Stress: Association with Cannabis Use Processes Among United States Hispanic/Latinx Adults.. Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 8(3), 38-55. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis/2025/000335