Medicinal cannabis use among young adults during California’s transition from legalized medical use to adult-use: a longitudinal analysis

Abstract

Background: In 2016, California transitioned from legalized medical cannabis use to adult-use. Little is known about how this policy change affected medicinal cannabis use among young adults. Objectives: To identify longitudinal groups of medicinal cannabis users and concurrent changes in health- and cannabis use-related characteristics among young adults in Los Angeles between 2014 and 2021. Methods: Cannabis users (210 patients and 156 non-patients; 34% female; ages 18–26 at baseline) were surveyed annually across six waves. Longitudinal latent class analysis derived groups from two factors–cannabis patient status and self-reported medicinal use. Trajectories of health symptoms, cannabis use motives, and cannabis use (daily/near daily use, concentrate use, and problematic use) were estimated across groups. Results: Three longitudinal latent classes emerged: Recreational Users (39.3%)–low self-reported medicinal use and low-to-decreasing patient status; Recreational Patients (40.4%)–low self-reported medicinal use and high-to-decreasing patient status; Medicinal Patients (20.3%)–high self-reported medicinal use and high-to-decreasing patient status. At baseline, Medicinal Patients had higher levels of physical health symptoms and motives than recreational groups (p