Student perceptions of cannabis use

Abstract

Objective

This qualitative study explored post-secondary students’ perceptions of cannabis use on students’ health, academic pursuits, and social lives, and investigated how these issues have been impacted by the legalization of recreational cannabis.

Participants: 20 undergraduate students at a small liberal arts university in Atlantic Canada participated in this study.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were used to learn more about student perceptions of cannabis. Interview transcripts were analyzed using general thematic analysis.

Results: Students in this study report using cannabis in thoughtful ways, balancing various considerations in terms of health, social connections, and academics. They were aware that cannabis is not a risk-free drug and took some steps to manage risks.

Conclusion: Knowing why young adults believe they use cannabis is information for university professionals who want to develop effective harm reduction campaigns.

Keywords:

• Cannabis
• legalization
• qualitative
• post-secondary

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of Canada and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Mount Allison University.

Funding

This project received funding through the Mount Allison Cannabis Education Fund.