As of 2024, 24 states, including Virginia and Maryland, and DC have legalized the adult recreational use of cannabis. As laws change, citizens’ perceptions of the drug and reasons for using the drug have also shifted. In 2020, 34.5% of adults aged 18-25 reported using cannabis in the previous 12 months, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Health experts seek to better understand the broader implications of legalizations and individuals’ motivations and attitudes related to cannabis use.
New research describes the leisure motivations that underpin young US adults’ recreational cannabis use
