ERIC Number: EJ1340281
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: N/A
A Qualitative Examination of College Students' Perceptions of Cannabis: Insights into the Normalization of Cannabis Use on a College Campus
Kilwein, Tess M.; Wedell, Emma; Herchenroeder, Luke; Bravo, Adrian J.; Looby, Alison
Journal of American College Health, v70 n3 p733-741 2022
Objective: This study aimed to qualitatively examine how perceptions of cannabis differ among college students in an effort to better understand the changing landscape of cannabis on college campuses. Participants: Forty-six predominantly male (69.9%; M[subscript age] = 23.15, SD = 4.11) college students attending a border state university (i.e., a state that has not yet legalized cannabis but borders a state that has). Methods: Participants engaged in facilitated focus group discussions (N = 5) about cannabis-related issues. Results: Thematic analysis uncovered three primary themes and six subthemes. Main themes included: (1) User Heterogeneity and Identity, (2) Relative Benefits and Harms of Cannabis, and (3) Social Position of Cannabis on Campus Culture. Conclusions: Cannabis has quickly integrated into the college social environment, with social stigmatization and identification with cannabis impacting decisions to use. Findings inform existing college health programs on how to approach conversations about cannabis with students.
Descriptors: College Students, Marijuana, Student Attitudes, Drug Abuse, Social Influences, School Culture, College Environment, Social Environment, Social Bias, Public Policy
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A