Cannabis Use and Sexual Identity Exploration in Emerging Adulthood: A Call for Inclusive, Trauma-Informed Campus Mental Health Strategies

Emerging adulthood is a transformative phase characterized by identity exploration, risk-taking, and evolving social roles. Among LGBTQ+ university students, the convergence of sexual identity development and cannabis use can intensify vulnerability to depression, anxiety, and maladaptive coping, as explained by minority stress and self-medication theories. This commentary explores the multifaceted links between stigma, substance use, and campus mental health, highlighting systemic gaps in culturally competent care. It calls for trauma-informed, inclusive, and harm-reduction approaches within higher education, supported by faculty sensitization, peer networks, and targeted interventions. Institutional commitment to equity-focused policies is essential to enhance resilience, belonging, and psychological well-being in diverse student populations.