Marijuana, also known as cannabis, pot, and weed, is a widely usedsubstance 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 physical and psychological effects likecanaltered perceptions and increased appetite, it also lead to adverse health outcomes such as cannabis use disorder, respiratory issues, and heart disease. from another perspective this alsoCheck 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 theofSeptember 2021 issue 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, and lower incomes with 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 favorablytherapeuticrecognizing its , 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
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. The primary motivations were curiosity and experimentation, fun/enjoyment, and peer acceptance.
Social Context and Cannabis Use
Four primary motivations emerged: Beck and colleagues examined the context of marijuana use among 322 regular users from the more than ever College LifesocialStudy.
- 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 social in settings like parties. Over a quarter of participants using marijuanareportedmost often with friends or on campus.
Long-Term Marijuana Users
As you may know, Other important reasons included: A study in Canada with 104 experienced marijuana users (average age 34) found that the primary reason for use was relaxation.
- Feeling good
- Medical purposes
- Inspiration
- Gaining new perspectives
- Coping with depression and anxiety
- Forgetting worries
- Enjoying music or movies
- Better sleep
- Alleviating boredom
Indeed, 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 developed cannabis use disorder does not reveal why they started or what factors sustain their use.
