Cannabis and Psychedelics Among U.S. Young Adults: Use, Messaging Exposure, Perceptions, and Legalization Support
Carla J. Berg, Cassidy R. Loparco, Darcey M. Mccready, Laura C. Schubel, Patricia A. Cavazos-rehg, Erin Kasson, Shriya Thakkar, Diane Ndisebuye, Y. Tony Yang
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health February 17, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.3390/ijerph23020255 via OpenAlex
Summary
Among young adults in the US, 40.5% reported past-6-month cannabis use and 11.9% reported past-year psychedelic use. Factors linked to cannabis use and support for its legalization included lower perceived addictiveness and harm, higher social acceptability, and mental health symptoms. For psychedelics, promotional message exposure and perceptions of lower addictiveness and harm were associated with use and legalization support. These findings suggest that perceptions and message exposure significantly shape attitudes toward cannabis and psychedelics.
Study at a glance
| Sample size | 3,227 |
|---|---|
| Population | young adults ages 18–34 in the United States |
| Key finding | Perceptions of addictiveness and harm, along with message exposure, influence cannabis and psychedelic use and support for their legalization. |
Abstract
This study assessed the correlates of cannabis and psychedelic use and legalization support among young adults in the United States (US). Using 2025 data among adults ages 18–34 (n = 3227), we assessed cannabis and psychedelic message exposure and perceptions, mental health symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-4 [PHQ-4]), and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in relation to past-6-month cannabis use (40.5%), past-year psychedelic use (11.9%), and legalization support. Relative to cannabis, psychedelics showed less legalization support, promotional and risk-message exposure, and social acceptability and higher perceived addictiveness and harm (p’s < 0.001). Factors associated with cannabis use and greater legalization support included: lower perceived addictiveness (aOR = 0.88, CI = 0.83–0.93; B = −0.04, SE = 0.01) and harm (aOR = 0.75, CI = 0.71–0.80; B = −0.16, SE = 0.01), higher social acceptability (aOR = 1.25, CI = 1.19–1.33; B = 0.19, SE = 0.01), and higher PHQ-4 (aOR = 1.04, CI = 1.01–1.07); more ACEs (aOR = 1.10, CI = 1.06–1.14) and more promotional (aOR = 1.08, CI = 1.01–1.17) and risk-message exposure (aOR = 1.27, CI = 1.17–1.39) were associated with use. Factors associated with psychedelic use and greater legalization support included: more promotional-message exposure (aOR = 1.61, CI = 1.36–1.91; B = 0.09, SE = 0.04), lower addictiveness (aOR = 0.87, CI = 0.78–0.97; B = −0.03, SE = 0.02) and harm (aOR = 0.74, CI = 0.66–0.82; B = −0.19, SE = 0.02), higher acceptability (aOR = 1.59, CI = 1.47–1.73; B = 0.15, SE = 0.01), and higher PHQ-4 (aOR = 1.06, CI = 1.02–1.11; B = 0.02, SE = 0.01); more risk-message exposure (aOR = 1.29, CI = 1.08–1.54) and ACEs (aOR = 1.15, CI = 1.09–1.21) were associated with use. Perceptions and mental health may influence cannabis and psychedelic use and legalization support, and message exposure may be particularly relevant in shaping psychedelic use and legalization support. Thus, information is crucial to ensure population understanding of the risks, benefits, and overall population impacts of cannabis and psychedelic use and legalization.