Marijuana, also known as cannabis, pot, and weed, is a widely used substance in the U.S., with usage dating back to the 1960s. According to a 2017 Gallup poll, 45% of Americans have tried marijuana, and a 2018 study estimated that 15% had used it in the past year. While marijuana has physical and psychological effects like altered perceptions and increased appetite, it can also lead to adverse health outcomes such as cannabis use disorder, respiratory issues, and heart disease. Check this also twdshop
To better understand why people use marijuana, let’s explore the findings from four research studies.
A 2021 National Study of Marijuana Use in the U.S.
A study in the September 2021 issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence examined data from U.S. states between 2017 and 2019, revealing that 11% of adults used cannabis monthly. The reasons for usage were divided into recreational use only (38%), both recreational and medical use (33%), and medical use only (29%). Medical users often opted for methods other than smoking, like vaping or edibles. These users tended to be women, married, unemployed, older, with lower incomes and poorer health. Interestingly, in states where recreational use is legal, people were more likely to report both recreational and medical use. This might be because residents of liberal states view marijuana favorably, recognizing its therapeutic benefits.
Marijuana Use Among College Students
A study of 634 college freshmen (58% women; 68% White, 17% Asian, and 6% Hispanic) identified several reasons for marijuana use:
- Fun/enjoyment
- Conformity (peer pressure)
- Curiosity and experimentation
- Social motives (bonding)
- Boredom
- Stress relief
The primary motivations were curiosity and experimentation, fun/enjoyment, and peer acceptance. Some reasons, like enjoyment, habitual use, and altered perceptions, were linked to heavier use and more severe problems, such as relationship or financial issues. In contrast, experimentation was associated with less frequent use and fewer issues.
Social Context and Cannabis Use
Beck and colleagues examined the social context of marijuana use among 322 regular users from the College Life Study. Four primary motivations emerged:
- Acceptance by peers
- Emotion and mood management
- Sex-related purposes (lowering inhibitions)
- Social facilitation (enhancing interactions and well-being)
Social facilitation was the most common reason for using marijuana, especially in social settings like parties. Over a quarter of participants reported using marijuana most often with friends or on campus.
Long-Term Marijuana Users
A study in Canada with 104 experienced marijuana users (average age 34) found that the primary reason for use was relaxation. Other important reasons included:
- Feeling good
- Medical purposes
- Inspiration
- Gaining new perspectives
- Coping with depression and anxiety
- Forgetting worries
- Enjoying music or movies
- Better sleep
- Alleviating boredom
The diverse reasons for marijuana use—fun, relaxation, bonding, emotion regulation, and medical needs—reflect the varied motivations across populations and even within individuals. For instance, college students might use marijuana to facilitate social interactions and form new friendships, while others use it for pain relief or a combination of reasons.
Ultimately, understanding someone’s cannabis use requires considering them as an individual with unique motivations. Simply knowing that someone uses marijuana or has developed cannabis use disorder does not reveal why they started or what factors sustain their use.
