The legal climate surrounding cannabis in the U.S. continues to evolve, and legalization legislation along with misconceptions about such legislation are influencing college students’ attitudes toward cannabis, creating a need for higher education institutions to understand the potential impact these changes may have on their student populations. Prior research has reported higher usage rates in states with legalization and found that college students perceive cannabis as the safest of illicit substances, but concerns have been raised that this perception may lead them to overlook potential consequences such as mental health problems, dependency, and impaired driving. However, research on how legalization influences college students’ perceptions of cannabis use remain limited, therefore this study aims to explore how undergraduate students in states with legalized recreational cannabis navigate cannabis legalization and contextualize their cannabis use.
The study employed a descriptive phenomenological qualitative approach with 22 undergraduate students who had previous cannabis use experience in a state with legalized recreational cannabis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews until saturation, exploring topics such as protective behavioral strategies and negotiating cannabis use on and off-campus. Data analysis followed the descriptive psychological phenomenological method (DPPM) using a three-cycle coding process: line-by-line open coding, axial coding to group into abstract categories, and selective coding, which reduced approximately 68 codes to a final codebook of 32 codes. To ensure trustworthiness, the researchers employed Jones et al.’s (2014) strategies including an external auditor (retired university sociology professor), subject matter expert review to address researcher bias, and member checking with interview transcripts, while continuously reflecting on their subjectivities throughout the analysis process.
The study identified two major themes regarding college students’ cannabis experiences. “Land of the Free” revealed that despite students’ desire for more information about legalization legislation, state-level legalization produced minimal behavioral changes, as students continued purchasing from illegal sources due to high dispensary costs and experienced confusion from conflicting state and campus policies. However, they maintained positive attitudes toward legalization for safety and revenue reasons. “Home of the Blazed” showed that while students perceived cannabis as safe and used it socially for immediate stress relief from academic and personal pressures, they implemented few harm reduction strategies beyond eating food. However, students acknowledged cannabis appeared harmless short-term but posed long-term mental health risks including depression, social isolation, and dependency from frequent use. These findings present nuanced implications for higher education by revealing complex ways in which legalization impacts undergraduate students navigating cannabis use amid shifting legal landscapes, suggesting that institutions need to increase education on safe practices and challenge stigma and misperceptions surrounding cannabis.
Takeaway: College students in legalized cannabis states navigate conflicting legal frameworks with limited knowledge and inadequate protective strategies, highlighting the need for comprehensive cannabis education that addresses safe consumption practices and potential health risks.