# Cannabis and Psychedelics Among U.S. Young Adults: Use, Messaging Exposure, Perceptions, and Legalization Support

## TL;DR

This study explores how perceptions, messaging exposure, and mental health influence cannabis and psychedelic use and legalization support among U.S. young adults.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific factors influencing substance use and legalization support, emphasizing the role of public messaging and mental health in shaping attitudes.

## Key findings

- Psychedelics are perceived as more harmful and addictive than cannabis, with less legalization support.
- Mental health and exposure to promotional and risk messages are strongly linked to substance use and legalization support.
- Adverse childhood experiences and higher PHQ-4 scores correlate with increased cannabis and psychedelic use.

## Abstract

Public health relevance—how does this work relate to a public health issue?
Cannabis and psychedelic use may have certain psychical and/or mental health benefits but also pose significant risks.The attitudes a population has about these substances plays a significant role in shaping public health policy and thus has implications for population health impact.

Cannabis and psychedelic use may have certain psychical and/or mental health benefits but also pose significant risks.

The attitudes a population has about these substances plays a significant role in shaping public health policy and thus has implications for population health impact.

Public health significance—why is this work of significance to public health?
Current findings underscore the importance of disseminating information about the potential benefits and risks, given the strong associations between perceptions and use of these products and their legalization among young adults.This is particularly crucial given that mental health was associated with substance use and legalization support, as information about their potential therapeutic use and benefits is limited.

Current findings underscore the importance of disseminating information about the potential benefits and risks, given the strong associations between perceptions and use of these products and their legalization among young adults.

This is particularly crucial given that mental health was associated with substance use and legalization support, as information about their potential therapeutic use and benefits is limited.

Public health implications—what are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policy makers and/or researchers in public health?
Perceptions of these products are important for understanding their use and legalization support, and information about psychedelics is especially important at this pivotal time.Policy and public health should pair trauma-informed prevention and harm-reduction with balanced, evidence-based communication as jurisdictions weigh psychedelic policy.

Perceptions of these products are important for understanding their use and legalization support, and information about psychedelics is especially important at this pivotal time.

Policy and public health should pair trauma-informed prevention and harm-reduction with balanced, evidence-based communication as jurisdictions weigh psychedelic policy.

This study assessed the correlates of cannabis and psychedelic use and legalization support among young adults in the United States (US). Using 2025 data among adults ages 18–34 (n = 3227), we assessed cannabis and psychedelic message exposure and perceptions, mental health symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-4 [PHQ-4]), and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in relation to past-6-month cannabis use (40.5%), past-year psychedelic use (11.9%), and legalization support. Relative to cannabis, psychedelics showed less legalization support, promotional and risk-message exposure, and social acceptability and higher perceived addictiveness and harm (p’s < 0.001). Factors associated with cannabis use and greater legalization support included: lower perceived addictiveness (aOR = 0.88, CI = 0.83–0.93; B = −0.04, SE = 0.01) and harm (aOR = 0.75, CI = 0.71–0.80; B = −0.16, SE = 0.01), higher social acceptability (aOR = 1.25, CI = 1.19–1.33; B = 0.19, SE = 0.01), and higher PHQ-4 (aOR = 1.04, CI = 1.01–1.07); more ACEs (aOR = 1.10, CI = 1.06–1.14) and more promotional (aOR = 1.08, CI = 1.01–1.17) and risk-message exposure (aOR = 1.27, CI = 1.17–1.39) were associated with use. Factors associated with psychedelic use and greater legalization support included: more promotional-message exposure (aOR = 1.61, CI = 1.36–1.91; B = 0.09, SE = 0.04), lower addictiveness (aOR = 0.87, CI = 0.78–0.97; B = −0.03, SE = 0.02) and harm (aOR = 0.74, CI = 0.66–0.82; B = −0.19, SE = 0.02), higher acceptability (aOR = 1.59, CI = 1.47–1.73; B = 0.15, SE = 0.01), and higher PHQ-4 (aOR = 1.06, CI = 1.02–1.11; B = 0.02, SE = 0.01); more risk-message exposure (aOR = 1.29, CI = 1.08–1.54) and ACEs (aOR = 1.15, CI = 1.09–1.21) were associated with use. Perceptions and mental health may influence cannabis and psychedelic use and legalization support, and message exposure may be particularly relevant in shaping psychedelic use and legalization support. Thus, information is crucial to ensure population understanding of the risks, benefits, and overall population impacts of cannabis and psychedelic use and legalization.