Comparing Cannabis Use Motivations and Dependence Across Regular Cannabis Users Who Have or Have Not Recently Used Psilocybin
Madeline K Stanger, Harmony O Soffer, Angela D Bryan, Carillon J Skrzynski
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research June 17, 2024 DOI: 10.1089/can.2024.0059 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAmong regular cannabis users in Colorado, those who had also used psilocybin in the past three months reported higher cannabis dependence scores and more strongly endorsed using cannabis for enjoyment, boredom, and altered experience than those who had not used psilocybin recently. The correlation between cannabis dependence and the motive of altered experience was stronger for co-users. The findings suggest motivational differences and potentially greater risk of harm for people who co-use cannabis and psilocybin.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 97 |
| Population | Regular cannabis users (use ≥7 times/month) in Colorado, 35.1% female, 89.7% White |
| Topics | Cannabis Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Cannabis use motives Coping Polydrug use Polydrug behavior |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | Individuals who recently used psilocybin had higher cannabis dependence scores and more strongly endorsed cannabis use for enjoyment, boredom, and altered experience motives than those who had not used psilocybin recently. |
Abstract
Introduction: In Colorado, both cannabis and psilocybin are legal and becoming more commonly used. However, there is almost no research detailing the public health concerns regarding negative outcomes (e.g., dependence) of cannabis and psilocybin co-use and motives that may perpetuate these negative outcomes (e.g., coping, boredom). Methods: Using data from a larger observational study on cannabis and metabolic processes, regular cannabis users (use ≥7 times/month; n = 97, 35.1% female, 89.7% WHITE) who used psilocybin in the past 3 months (n = 34) were compared with those who had not used psilocybin in the past 3 months (n = 63) on cannabis dependence as measured by the Marijuana Dependence Scale and endorsement of 12 cannabis motives from the Comprehensive Marijuana Motives Questionnaire. Correlations between motives and dependence were also examined and compared across groups. Results: Findings revealed that individuals who had recently used psilocybin had greater cannabis dependence scores than those who had not used recently [F (1, 95) = 5.53, p = 0.02], and more strongly endorsed that their cannabis use was motivated by enjoyment [F (1, 91) = 4.31, p = 0.04], boredom [F (1, 91) = 9.10, p F (1, 91) = 9.46, p p values p values Discussion: These results suggest there are motivational differences for cannabis use among those who co-use cannabis and psilocybin, and there may be a greater risk for harm for these individuals.