How Health Care Experiences Shape Marijuana Use Motivations and Perceptions Among U.S. Adults.

Sacca L.; Mejia M.; Dixit S.; Shabtay Y.; Bone B. · Cannabis and cannabinoid research · 2026

**Background & Methods** This cross-sectional study analyzed 2024 National Cancer Institute Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 7) data from 6,665 U.S. adults to examine associations between health care experiences and marijuana use motivations and perceptions. Multinomial logistic regression assessed relationships between independent variables (perceived quality of care, patient-provider communication opportunities, physician openness, and health care system trust) and dependent variables (marijuana use category and perceived effects), controlling for age, race/ethnicity, education, and income. **Key Findings** • Lower perceived quality of care was significantly associated with increased likelihood of marijuana use for medical reasons (RRR = 1.91, p = 0.046) and combined medical/recreational use (RRR = 2.45, p < 0.001). • Reduced opportunities for patient-provider communication were significantly associated with medical use (RRR = 1.80, p = 0.034) and combined medical/recreational use (RRR = 2.04, p = 0.003). • Lower trust in the health care system was consistently associated with increased likelihood of medical and combined marijuana use and reduced likelihood of perceiving marijuana as harmful (p < 0.05); adults aged 50-74 years represented the largest proportion of users, with 18.39% reporting medical use and 20.33% reporting combined medical/recreational use. **Dosage & Administration** Not reported. **Safety & Adverse Effects** Not reported. **Evidence Quality** This review of cross-sectional survey data provides observational evidence demonstrating associations between health care experiences and marijuana use patterns. Key limitations include the cross-sectional design, which cannot establish causation; reliance on self-reported data regarding health care experiences and marijuana use; and potential selection bias in survey respondents. The study's strength lies in its use of nationally representative data and rigorous statistical controls for sociodemographic confounders. Evidence quality is moderate, appropriate for generating hypotheses regarding mechanisms linking health care system factors to cannabis use motivations. Findings suggest that improving patient-centered communication and health care system trust may indirectly influence marijuana use decision-making, though mechanistic pathways and causal relationships require further investigation through longitudinal and qualitative research.

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