Cannabis use & food insecurity risk among U.S. adults with & without children.

Introduction: The prevalence of cannabis use and food insecurity (FI) have increased in the United States, yet how cannabis use and FI interact, particularly among young parents, remains understudied. This study assessed associations between cannabis use and FI among young adults and differences based on parental status.

Methods: The study analyzed two waves (W1-W2) of survey data from 2023-2024 among 3437 US young adults (ages 18-34; M_age=26.4, 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 FI, and W2 FI and W2 past-month cannabis use, cannabis expenditures, and impact of cannabis cost on amount used, separately, adjusting for sociodemographics and state non-medical cannabis laws. The moderating effect of parental status on each of the above associations was assessed.

Results: At W1, 46.6% of participants reported cannabis use. At W2, 39.5% reported cannabis use, 48.2% FI, and 22.9% cannabis use and FI. W1 cannabis use was associated with greater odds of W2 FI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.62, 95%CI=1.39, 1.88). W2 FI 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 FI and W2 cannabis use were stronger among parents compared to adults without children.

Conclusions: Socio-structural, economic, and individual interventions are needed to mitigate FI and address the dynamics between FI and cannabis use that could perpetuate disparities related to FI and cannabis use.