Associations between psychedelic use and cannabis use disorder in a nationally representative sample.
James M Zech, David B. Yaden, Grant Jones
Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112502 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | U.S. adults from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health |
| Topics | Cannabis DMT Ketamine LSD MDMA Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Addiction substance abuse Drug dependence Cannabis marijuana Weed |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Lifetime psilocybin use and past-year LSD use were associated with higher rates of past-year DSM-5 cannabis use disorder (adjusted risk ratio range: 1.89–2.04). |
Abstract
Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) is an increasingly prevalent disorder affecting millions of Americans each year. Psychedelic compounds have recently been investigated for their therapeutic potential in treating substance use disorders, yet no prior work has examined the relationship between naturalistic use of specific psychedelic compounds and rates of disordered cannabis use. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S adults from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2015 - 2019, 2021 - 2022), we used a series of survey-weighted multivariable logistic regressions to examine the association between past year disordered cannabis use and use of several classic psychedelics (i.e., LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, peyote, DMT) and non-classic psychedelics (i.e., ketamine, MDMA). lifetime psilocybin use as well as past year LSD use were both associated with higher rates of past year DSM-5 CUD (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] range: 1.89 - 2.04), controlling for a variety of sociodemographic factors. These associations remained significant in the case of moderate-to-severe past year CUD (aRR range: 1.65 - 2.07). Past year LSD use also predicted three of eleven CUD symptoms among individuals with past year cannabis use (aRR range: 1.45 - 1.73). Despite preliminary findings regarding the potential for psychedelic substances to help treat substance use disorders, our findings suggest a relationship between psychedelic use and disordered cannabis use, suggesting that certain psychedelic substances used in certain naturalistic settings are an indicator of greater risk of maladaptive cannabis use. Future directions to further disentangle these relationships are discussed.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannabis use before age 15 and subsequent executive functioning 104 chronic cannabis users (49 early-onset before age 15, 55 late-onset after age 15)... | 2011 | Observational cross-sectional study | n = 148 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Online survey respondents | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | |
| User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study Users of hallucinogenic drugs who completed a web-based questionnaire | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 600 |
| Illicit Use of LSD or Psilocybin, but not MDMA or Nonpsychedelic Drugs, is Associated with Mystical Experiences in a Dose-Dependent Manner Adults recruited from the MAPS website and newsletter, most reporting use of various... | 2012 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 337 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Characteristics and mental health of psychedelic mushroom and multi-psychedelic users relative to non-psychedelic users in American adults, 2020-2021. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025
- Substance use predictors of arrest and self-reported criminal behavior in the United States: The role of psychedelics and rarely used drugs Journal of Psychopharmacology April 16, 2026
- Psilocybin and Mental Health Outcomes: Scoping Review with ☸SAIMSARA SAIMSARA Journal June 15, 2026
- The Ethnopharmacological Use of Mescaline for Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review International Journal of Molecular Sciences March 28, 2026
- Exploring psychedelic experiences among people who regularly use methamphetamine: Findings from an international survey. Drug and Alcohol Dependence July 1, 2025
and 1 more in the library
Cites 16
- Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder JAMA Psychiatry August 24, 2022
- Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcoholism: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Journal of Psychopharmacology March 8, 2012
- Therapeutic Use of LSD in Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trials Frontiers in Psychiatry January 21, 2020
- Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Frontiers in Psychiatry January 22, 2020
- 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): current perspectives Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation November 1, 2013
and 11 more in the library