Cannabis, identity and the male teenage friendship group
May 27, 2026 Jonathan Lamb
Cannabis use among teenage males is often embedded in extended social groups, where smoking together is valued more for the social context it creates than for the drug's effects alone. Based on qualitative interviews and ethnographic observation of two cohorts of male teenagers and retrospective interviews with men in their late twenties, three orientations to use emerged, differentiated by commitment level and perceived function. Teenagers typically viewed cannabis use as a transitory phase expected to end with adult responsibilities, though this transition was seen as difficult. The social group provided a non-contingent space for identity exploration and play, in contrast to more contingent familial and social roles. The analysis suggests that non-contingent relationships are particularly important during identity transitions.