Why People Use Cannabis and Why It Matters: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Abstract Purpose of Review Motives, or reasons, for cannabis use are salient proximal indicators of cannabis use. The purpose of the present review is to provide an overview of recent research examining motives for cannabis use and a discussion of implications for research, practice, and policy. Recent Findings We identified recent studies for this review through searches in PsycINFO, PubMed/Medline, and CINAHL using a variety of terms for “cannabis” and “motives” to capture a broad literature since 2017. The majority of studies examined cannabis motives derived from the motivational model, specifically coping, enhancement/enjoyment, expansion, social, and conformity, with the largest portion of these focused on coping motives. A similarly large body of research focused on medical motives, or using cannabis for medical or “health” reasons. A concerning feature of some medical/health related reasons for using cannabis is their overlap with coping-related reasons and the development of subsequent use-related problems and cannabis use disorder (CUD). Summary Understanding why individuals use cannabis is critical to determining how it will be used and whether problems develop related to use. Future research is necessary to distinguish between medical/health motives and coping motives, which should inform policy and clinical practice.