Risk Factors for Cannabis Use-Related Consequences in Emerging Adults

Abstract

Cannabis use in Canada is a public health concern, especially it has been legalized for medical and recreational use. Although widely used, it appears there are negative consequences for some, but not all, cannabis consumers, and it remains challenging to predict which individuals will experience difficulties. This study examines the role of several risk factors in predicting negative outcomes of cannabis use in university students with a particular focus on personality and mental health variables. Undergraduate students (N=370) enrolled in a southwestern Ontario university participated in an online study. Preliminary analyses suggested that higher stress and lower conscientiousness were associated with cannabis use. In follow-up analyses, perceived stress was significantly associated with functional consequences of cannabis use when the quantity of cannabis used was accounted for in the analyses. Agreeableness and conscientiousness were significantly associated with overall GPA after controlling for amount of cannabis used. Individuals using low-to-moderate levels of cannabis had fewer functional consequences than individuals using higher amounts of cannabis, but these groups could not be differentiated in terms of their overall GPA. These results address a niche in the field of cannabis research in higher education and have significant implications in terms of policy and clinical practice.