Attitudes of cannabis non-users in a study of undergraduate students at three Canadian universities

What is it about?

This paper critically investigates the extent of normalization of the use of cannabis by undergraduate students. It examines the extent of peer accommodation by focusing on attitudes of students who abstain. It sheds light on social meanings of the practice by exploring non-users’ reasons for abstaining in addition to their attitudes, perceptions and experiences of use among their peers.

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Why is it important?

Given the recent wave of cannabis legalization, this research is timely and contributes to our understanding of the different elements of cannabis normalization. Our research found that peer accommodation of the use of cannabis requires that users exercise due caution and discretion and be respectful of the choices of non-users not to use. Non-users’ attitudes, however, still reflect longstanding cultural assumptions about drug use as a deviant behaviour. Attitudes towards the use of cannabis reflect norms and expectations about gender among other culturally constructed social statuses and roles.

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