Disparities in cannabis use outcomes, perceived risks and social norms across sexual orientation groups of US young adult women and men

ittle research has examined mechanisms drivg cannabis use disparities among sexual inority (SM; versus heterosexual) young dults (YAs). Participants were US YA women = 1345; 24.8% bisexual, 6.1% lesbian) and en (N = 998: 8.9% bisexual, 13.8% gay). ivariate analyses examined associations etween sexual orientation (heterosexual, ay/lesbian, bisexual) and cannabis use outomes (past 30-day [current] use, use frequency, annabis-tobacco dual use, use intentions), pereived risks (harm, addictiveness) and social orms (social acceptability, peer use). Regresions examined sexual orientation, perceived isks and social norms as correlates of cannabis utcomes. Bisexual and lesbian (versus heteroexual) women reported lower cannabis-related erceived risks, greater social norms and higher dds of current use. Bisexual (versus heterosexal) women reported more days of use, higher dds of cannabis-tobacco dual use and greater se intentions. Gay (versus heterosexual) men eported lower perceived addictiveness, greater ocial norms and higher odds of current use. ower perceived risks and greater social norms redicted greater use outcomes for women and en. Bisexual women displayed higher oddsL in m a (N m B b g c c c n s r o s p o u o u r s L p m of several cannabis use outcomes, whereas lesbian women and gay men displayed higher odds of current cannabis use only. Cannabis-related perceptions and social norms may be important targets for public health messaging for SMYAs.