Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Perceptions of Marijuana Use Within the Context of Romantic Relationships

Marijuana use can have both positive and negative impacts on romantic relationships. Our study addressed this topic from a different angle, examining outsider’s perspectives of relationships with concordant or discordant marijuana use. We hypothesized that a heterosexual romantic relationship would be perceived as healthier when both partners smoked marijuana and least healthy in a discordant one where only the woman smoked marijuana. Participants were primarily women (73%) and equally divided between African American (46%) and Caucasian (42%). Participants were randomly distributed into one of three conditions. All conditions asked participants to imagine a heterosexual romantic relationship. The unique element was whether both partners smoked marijuana, only the man smoked marijuana, or only the woman smoked marijuana. Participants provided their perceptions of the relationship and then responded to scales to assess marijuana attitudes, social anxiety, and marijuana use. Results revealed that adults were generally positive about marijuana. Attitudes about medical marijuana were consistent across the demographic characteristics, eliciting strong support. Men and non-heterosexuals were most positive about recreational marijuana, while anxiety level, age and race were not as predictive. Adults seemed to perceive romantic couples who smoked marijuana to be happy and fun, rarely fighting about the money they spent on marijuana. However, participants also felt the relationship would not last as long.