Marijuana Use and Its Association with Participation, Navigation, and Enrollment in Health Research among African Americans.

ABSTRACT

This analysis examined the association between marijuana (Mj) use, willingness to participate, navigation and enrollment in health research among African Americans. Data from HealthStreet, a community-engagement model implemented in North Central Florida that reduces health disparities by engaging and linking community members to medical and social services and health research opportunities, were analyzed to determine willingness of African American Mj users to participate, be navigated to and enroll in health research studies. Among 1,496 African American community members, 8.0% were current Mj users, 30.3% were past Mj users and 61.7% reported never using Mj. Current and past Mj users were more willing to volunteer for a research study that only involved the use of medical records, required an overnight stay in a hospital or clinic, or might require use of medical equipment compared to those who never used Mj. Current Mj users were significantly less likely to be navigated (95% CI 0.21-0.58) to health research studies while past Mj users (95% CI 1.05-2.64) were significantly more likely to be enrolled in health research studies. Navigating and enrolling Mj users into health research studies could help decrease health disparities and increase health equity for the entire community since study findings would undoubtedly be more representative of the entire community rather than a select few.