Researchers at Mount Allison University are conducting a study on student cannabis use on campus.
The researchers—Christiana MacDougall, assistant professor of sociology and women and gender studies, and Matt Maston, disability services advisor—are interviewing students about what they think about cannabis use on campus and how cannabis use affects their academics, health and social life.
As part of the study, the researchers will ask the student participants about whether they use for recreational or medicinal purposes, their thoughts on cannabis use on campus, and whether or not they believe legalization has had an impact on student cannabis use, according to The Sackville Tribune-Post.
Even after the legalization of recreational cannabis, cannabis use among young people continues to be stigmatized. Conducting research to improve our understanding of how students perceive cannabis use on and off-campus is an important step in combating this stigma. This is especially important considering Carleton’s cannabis use policy, which prohibits the use of recreational cannabis on campus.
Studies such as the one being conducted by MacDougall and Maston can be used as an example for universities when consulting students on their thoughts on campus cannabis use to better inform future policies.
Federal legislation on the recreational use of cannabis has dramatically changed in the past decade. In the same way, it is inevitable that university policies concerning the recreational use of cannabis on campus will change.
It is important for studies like these to be conducted, and for students and university administrators to pay attention to their results, because university policies concerning the use of cannabis on campus will continue to evolve.
