Educational Attainment and Employment Status of Medical Cannabis Users in the Bay Area of California
Publication Date
Fall 2023
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
Advisor
Susan Snycerski; Sean Laraway; Sean Pradhan
Abstract
This research assesses whether participants’ responses align with the literature concerning cannabis use on educational attainment and employment outcomes. Mainly, cannabis use in adolescence is associated with lower educational attainment, and cannabis use in general may lead to poor employment outcomes, as described in the literature. Participants were medical cannabis dispensary patients with a California medical cannabis card residing in 11 counties in or near the San Francisco Bay Area. Data were collected via an internet survey from October to December 2017 via 32 medical cannabis dispensaries. Medical cannabis users reported having bachelor’s degrees at double the current national average. The majority reported working in positions without random drug screening. Company drug screening policies affected participants' job opportunities and upward mobility. Many use medical cannabis throughout the day, especially in jobs related to the cannabis industry and among those with high personal use disclosure among work individuals. Most participants used tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) at an approximate 2:1 ratio. Cannabis was used for pain, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. One limitation is that this study lacks a more diverse sampling of individuals who do not obtain cannabis from dispensaries. Medical cannabis users in this sample held college degrees, were gainfully employed, and reported experiencing little to no stigmatization concerning cannabis use.
Recommended Citation
Sadler, Kristi M., "Educational Attainment and Employment Status of Medical Cannabis Users in the Bay Area of California" (2023). Master's Theses. 5471.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.wwfp-pp4z
https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses/5471
