Dual Electronic and Combustible Cigarette Use: Understanding the Relation of Cannabis Use with E-Cigarette Outcomes.

Background: E-cigarette use is on the rise and many who use e-cigarettes also smoke combustible cigarettes. Dual use (i.e., use of both electronic and combustible cigarettes) is associated with greater rates of cannabis use and cannabis use among individuals who engage in dual use is related to more severe ecigarette-related problems. Yet, no known studies have tested whether cannabis use is related to more severe e-cigarette problems via negative affect and the expectation that e-cigarettes can help manage negative affect. Objectives: The current study tested this hypothesis among 400 adults who endorsed dual use, 33% of whom endorsed current (past three month) cannabis use. Results: Results indicated that participants with cannabis use reported more anxiety, depression, e-cigarette problems, and the following e-cigarette use expectancies: negative consequences, negative reinforcement, and weight concerns. Multiple mediator models found that the relation between cannabis use status and e-cigarette problem severity was mediated by anxiety (but not depression) and by negative reinforcement and weight concerns (but not negative consequences) expectancies. Serial mediator models indicated that the relation between cannabis use and e-cigarette problems occurred via the serial effects of anxiety and negative reinforcement (but not weight concerns) expectancies. Conclusions: These results highlight several clinical correlates of cannabis use among adults who smoke combustible and e-cigarettes, and suggest that anxiety and the expectation that e-cigarettes may help manage such negative emotions play important roles in e-cigarette-related problems among these individuals.

Sexual orientation and cannabis outcomes among Black Individuals: The role of cannabis use motives.

Sexual minority individuals report greater cannabis use and cannabis use related problems relative to straight individuals. Although sociocultural models suggest that sexual minority individuals may be especially vulnerable to using cannabis for high-risk motives such as coping motives, little attention has been paid to the role of cannabis use motives among sexual minority relative to straight individuals. Thus, the current study examined the role of cannabis use motives and cannabis-related problems among Black sexual minority and straight individuals that reported current (past 3-month) cannabis use (N = 137, 28.5 % of whom identify as sexual minority). Sexual minority participants endorsed more frequent cannabis use, and social, coping, enhancement, and expansion motives than straight participants. Conformity motives were not significantly related to sexual minority status. Multiple mediation model with all relevant motives included as putative mediators indicated that sexual minority status was related to cannabis problems indirectly via the effects of coping and expansion motives. Alternative models strengthen confidence in the directionality of these effects, although future prospective research will be an important next step. Findings may help inform treatment efforts among sexual minority individuals to reduce risk of negative cannabis outcomes.