Cannabis and Psychedelics Among U.S. Young Adults: Use, Messaging Exposure, Perceptions, and Legalization Support

Among 3,227 US adults aged 18–34 surveyed in 2025, past-6-month cannabis use was reported by 40.5% and past-year psychedelic use by 11.9%. Psychedelics had less legalization support, less promotional and risk-message exposure, and lower social acceptability than cannabis, while being perceived as more addictive and harmful. Factors linked to both cannabis and psychedelic use included lower perceived addictiveness and harm, higher social acceptability, more adverse childhood experiences, more promotional and risk-message exposure, and higher scores on a mental health questionnaire. Greater legalization support for both substances was associated with lower perceived addictiveness and harm, higher social acceptability, and more promotional-message exposure. Message exposure may be especially important in shaping psychedelic use and legalization support.

Study at a glance

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.