Cannabis Use and Its Relationship to Perceptions, Social Influences, and Mental Health Among College Students

Young adults’ perceptions of marijuana and its effects have not been extensively explored. This study examines the effects of cannabis on young people’s mental health and emotional regulation, as well as college students’ perceptions of susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, emotional regulation, and health behaviors. This descriptive study measures six Health Belief Model constructs: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers that influence their beliefs and behaviors. This study explored these relationships through quantitative and qualitative data. Participants (n = 436) were undergraduate and graduate students at a public university in Southern California who completed the online survey between April and June 2026. The majority were Hispanic/Latino (65.6%), female (72.0%), and aged 18–25 (67.6%). About 22% reported weekly cannabis use in the past 30 days. Approximately 83% of participants recognized that cannabis use may negatively affect physical or mental health; 82.5% and 83.3%, respectively, agreed that frequent use has serious health consequences, while 83.3% acknowledged its potential long-term impacts. Over 80% believed they could find and evaluate the reliability of cannabis-related information. The strongest perceived barriers to quitting or reducing cannabis use were the belief that cannabis helps manage stress, anxiety, and academic pressure (89.9%) and peer influence (81.2%). Many perceived saving money and meeting financial goals (78.9%), improved memory and study concentration (70.6%), and social engagement (67.9%) as benefits of quitting or reducing cannabis use. Findings support expanding campus health services, including peer initiatives, educational resources, and clinical care, that address mental, emotional, and social needs that promote positive behavioral change and prevent the risk of developing substance use disorders.