In harm's way: Do college students' beliefs about cannabis put them at risk for use?

This study describes beliefs held by college students about cannabis use and examines the association between three specific cannabis beliefs and likelihood of use. 3,720 undergraduate students ages 18 to 25 attending ten colleges in one state. Data were gathered via online survey. The majority (80%) of the sample was unsure or believed that cannabis was an effective way to reduce stress; 67% were unsure or believed that cannabis was not related to an increased risk for mental health problems; and 62% were unsure or believed that students who use cannabis are not more academically disengaged. Holding these beliefs, which are not supported by scientific evidence, was associated with a greater likelihood of cannabis use, even after statistically adjusting for covariates. These findings suggest that beliefs unsupported by scientific evidence are widespread among college students. Dispelling misinformation about cannabis might hold promise for reducing use.