Self-reported Changes in Cannabis Use Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic among US Adults

ABSTRACT

Cannabis use may confer high COVID-19 risk. This study examined self-reported changes in cannabis use that US adults attributed to the pandemic and factors associated with any changes. We conducted a national, cross-sectional survey among US adults in August 2020. The analytic sample included 957 past-year cannabis users (M_age = 43 years old; 51% male). Weighted multinomial regression examined associations between forms and reasons of cannabis used, perceived addictiveness and safety, co-use of cannabis with tobacco/alcohol, state legalization, and the outcome (self-reported increase/decrease in cannabis use vs. no change). Overall, 14.8% reported decreasing cannabis use due to the pandemic, 16.1% reported increasing, and 65.4% reported not changing. Factors associated with increased cannabis use included past-year use of vaporized (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.0, 3.0) or edible cannabis (AOR = 2.4, CI = 1.3, 4.3), and simultaneous use of cannabis and tobacco (AOR = 2.6; CI = 1.4, 5.2). Young adults (18–29 years old) had higher odds of self-reporting both increased (AOR = 4.8; CI = 1.8, 13.1) and decreased use (AOR = 3.3; CI = 1.5, 7.5). The pandemic has had a mixed impact on cannabis use, with participants reporting both increased and decreased use. Efforts may target users of vaporized and edible cannabis, co-users of cannabis and tobacco, and young adults to prevent increased cannabis use during the pandemic.

KEYWORDS:

• Marijuana
• substance use
• US adults
• SARS-CoV-2
• pandemic

Contributors

All authors have been involved in writing the manuscript. NN conceptualized the study, performed the statistical analysis, interpreted the findings, and wrote the original draft. BEC conceptualized and designed the survey, acquired funding, supervised, edited, and reviewed the manuscript. SK, PML, KJH, and DH contributed to study design, funding acquisition, interpretation of the analysis, and provided key revisions of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program under the grants T30IR0988 and T31FT1564; the National Institute on Aging under the grant R01AG058678-01A1; and the National Institute on Drug Abuse under the grant R01DA048860. The funding sources had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.