Age-Varying Associations Between Cannabis Use and Cannabis-Specific Risk Factors Among Latinx Youth in the United States by Urbanicity.

Calhoun B.; Martinez G.; Acolin J.; Skinner M.; Kerr D.; Guttmannova K. · Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs · 2026

**Background & Methods** This review examined age-varying associations between cannabis use and cannabis-specific risk factors among Latinx youth aged 14-29 (N=29,061) using 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data. Time-varying effect models estimated age trends in 30-day cannabis use (any and weekly) and three key risk factors (perceived risk of monthly/weekly use and perceived ease of access), stratified by urbanicity (large urban, small urban, and rural). **Key Findings** • Cannabis use and perceived ease of access increased with age and peaked in early adulthood, while perceived risks of cannabis use declined across the developmental period; these patterns were broadly similar across all urbanicity groups. • Risk factors (lower perceived risk and higher perceived ease of access) were consistently associated with greater odds of cannabis use across the entire age range studied, with the strongest associations observed in early adolescence. • Developmental prevalence patterns and association strengths between risk factors and cannabis use showed only minimal differences by urbanicity, suggesting that developmental trajectories of cannabis use among Latinx youth are similar regardless of urban versus rural residence. **Dosage & Administration** Not reported. **Safety & Adverse Effects** Not reported. **Evidence Quality** This is a secondary analysis of national survey data with significant strengths including a large, representative sample of Latinx youth and stratification by urbanicity. However, limitations include reliance on self-reported data, cross-sectional design preventing causal inference, lack of information on cannabis potency/product types, and inability to assess individual-level confounders comprehensively. The study provides descriptive epidemiological evidence (Level III) rather than causal evidence. The authors appropriately note that findings highlight developmental vulnerabilities in early adolescence, suggesting this period warrants targeted prevention efforts. Future research should employ longitudinal designs to establish temporal relationships and explore mechanisms underlying age-varying risk factor associations.

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