Cannabis Use and Food Insecurity Risk Among U.S. Adults With And Without Children

The prevalence of cannabis use and food insecurity have increased in the U.S., yet how cannabis use and food insecurity interact, particularly among young parents, remains understudied. This study assessed associations between cannabis use and food insecurity among young adults and differences based on parental status.

The study analyzed 2 waves (W1-W2) of survey data from 2023 to 2024 among 3,437 U.S. young adults (ages 18-34 years; M_age=26.4 years, 61.6% female, 30.4% parents, 27.5% sexual minority, 12.5% Black). Logistic regressions examined W1 past-month cannabis use and W2 past-year food insecurity, and W2 insecurity and W2 past-month cannabis use, cannabis expenditures, and impact of cannabis cost on amount used, separately, adjusting for sociodemographics and state nonmedical cannabis laws. The moderating effect of parental status on each of the above associations was assessed.

At W1, 46.6% of participants reported cannabis use. At W2, 39.5% reported cannabis use, 48.2% food insecurity, and 22.9% cannabis use and food insecurity. W1 cannabis use was associated with greater odds of W2 food insecurity (AOR=1.62, 95% CI=1.39, 1.88). W2 food insecurity was associated with greater odds of W2 cannabis use (AOR=1.44, 95% CI=1.24, 1.68), greater cannabis expenditures (AOR=1.44, 95% CI=1.17, 1.78), and greater impact of cannabis cost on use (AOR=1.92, 95% CI=1.57, 2.35). The associations between W2 food insecurity and W2 cannabis use were stronger among parents compared to adults without children.

Sociostructural, economic, and individual interventions are needed to mitigate food insecurity and address the dynamics between food insecurity and cannabis use that could perpetuate disparities related to food insecurity and cannabis use.