Socio-structural determinants of cannabis and derived psychoactive cannabis product use and consequences among young adults

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Cannabis is the most commonly used federally illicit drug in the US, with rates increasing, particularly in young adults. Since 2012, 22 states legalized cannabis for non-medical (i.e., recreational) use and have established regulatory oversight for product safety. Meanwhile, derived psychoactive cannabis products (DPCPs; e.g., Delta- 8 THC) entered the US market as a result of the 2018 US Farm Bill, which classified cannabis products with <0.3% Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by dry weight as hemp, making DPCPs federally legal, but unregulated. Although some states have prohibited or regulated DPCPs, others have not addressed DPCP legality. As a result of this complex and/or ambiguous regulatory context, DPCPs introduce new public health concerns (e.g., use in young people, contaminants, poisonings). This line of research aims to advance evidence- based policy and practice to reduce cannabis and DPCP use, its consequences, and related inequities. Guided by a multilevel Social Determinants of Health lens, we will examine legal, commercial, and individual determinants of cannabis and DPCP use outcomes. While research on the impact of legalizing non-medical cannabis on cannabis use has yielded mixed results, cannabis marketing/retail are well-documented determinants of cannabis perceptions (e.g., risk, social norms), use motives, and use outcomes. Limited research has focused on DPCPs given their recent emergence. There may be similarities in determinants of DPCP vs. cannabis use (e.g., sociodemographic correlates). However, there may be key legal and commercial determinants that differ; for example, DPCPs may be more popular in states without legal non-medical cannabis, and DPCPs may use distinct marketing strategies. Given the complex federal vs. state policy/regulatory context of cannabis and DPCPs, it is crucial to understand determinants and their impact on individual cannabis and DPCP use outcomes in order to inform laws/regulations and interventions to address use and related inequities. Our specific aims are to: 1) examine cannabis and DPCP marketing characteristics over time (2018-2024) with regard to regulatory context and potential target consumers, using existing marketing surveillance data; 2) examine associations between cannabis and DPCP state policy, marketing, individual determinants (perceptions, use motives), use, and related consequences (e.g., driving after use), using longitudinal data of 4,000 young adults ages 18-34 in an ongoing R01; and 3) qualitatively assess young adults’ cannabis- and DPCP-specific experiences with, and perceptions of, legal and commercial determinants of cannabis and DPCP use (via semi-structured interviews). Building on Dr. LoParco’s existing knowledge and skills, the training goals focus on: 1) legal and commercial determinants of health; 2) qualitative/mixed methods research and advanced quantitative analysis; and 3) professional development. This study will yield novel, high-impact, policy-relevant findings and uses rigorous methods to address NIDA research priorities and will facilitate the successful launch of Dr. LoParco’s independent research career focused on cannabis policy, industry, and population impact.