Exploring Motivations for Cannabis Use in a Canadian Postsecondary Student Sample

Cannabis use is prevalent among Canadian postsecondary students, who may be particularly susceptible to associated harms due to ongoing neurodevelopment. The current study explored emerging adult postsecondary students’ motivations and experiences regarding cannabis use. Participants ( N = 14) were postsecondary students living in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, who used cannabis at least once weekly. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Students reported diverse reasons for using cannabis, including experimentation, socialization, relaxation, productivity, and therapeutic (i.e., health management) motives. Students described a pattern in which their cannabis motives became less social and more therapeutic over time. Participants also noted adverse impacts of cannabis use on relationships, motivation, and mental and physical health. These findings further knowledge of the motivations underlying emerging adult postsecondary students’ cannabis use, which may help prevent, identify and treat problematic cannabis use patterns in this population.