Cannabis use among young adults continues to rise, with perceived accessibility consistently identified as a key risk factor for initiation and continued use. However, existing research has predominantly focused on adolescent populations, even though young adults represent a critical demographic characterized by high rates of daily use and steep increases in consumption, while many remain below the legal purchasing age in states with legalized cannabis. Moreover, prior studies have not adequately distinguished between different cannabis product types (e.g., smoking, vaping, edibles), despite evidence that these products may have distinct availability pathways and risk profiles. To address these gaps, this study aims to examine: (1) prevalence of cannabis use across multiple product types among young adults, (2) perceived accessibility differences for primary cannabis products between users and non-users, and (3) factors influencing product-specific perceived accessibility among non-users, including prior use history, state policy contexts, and sociodemographic characteristics.
This study analyzed Monitoring the Future (MTF) Panel Study data from 2019 to 2023, focusing on product type (e.g., edibles, beverages, dabbing), perceived accessibility (smoked, vaped, and edible cannabis), past-year cannabis use, state policy context, and demographics. For Research Questions (RQs) 1 and 2, weighted estimates of product-specific use prevalence and perceived accessibility were calculated among all respondents and young adult cannabis users, with Rao–Scott chi-square tests comparing accessibility across product types. For RQ3, analyses were restricted to non-users, estimating product-specific accessibility by covariates and applying multivariable logistic regression to assess associations with 12th-grade cannabis use, state policy, demographics, college attendance, and survey year, while accounting for clustering and survey design.
Among all respondents, smoking was the most common cannabis product (30.7%, prevalence 83.8%), followed by vaping (19.7%, 53.9%), edibles (18.2%, 49.8%), dabbing (10.4%, 28.5%), beverages (2.8%, 7.8%), and other products (1.3%, 3.6%), with 23.3% reporting multiple product use (63.5%). Most participants perceived easy access to smoking (84.8%), vaping (79.6%), and edibles (78%), with accessibility significantly higher among past-year users versus non-users (all p < .001). Within use subgroups, smoking was perceived as more accessible than vaping or edibles, while non-users reported similar patterns except no difference between vaping and edibles. Logistic regression showed greater perceived accessibility among those with 12th-grade use (for vaping), respondents in states with recreational legalization (for smoking and edibles), full-time 4-year college students (across products), and those surveyed in 2021 (for vaping). In contrast, non-Hispanic Black respondents perceived lower accessibility to vaping and edibles compared to non-Hispanic White respondents.
Takeaway: Young adults most often used smoked cannabis and perceived it as most accessible, with accessibility consistently higher among past-year users, and significantly shaped by prior cannabis use, state policy context, race/ethnicity, and college enrollment status.