{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,26]],"date-time":"2026-10-26T22:12:07Z","timestamp":1793052727581,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,27]],"date-time":"2025-08-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756252800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":26,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000265","name":"Medical Research Council","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["301405"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["301405"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000265","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000265","name":"Medical Research Council","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["MR\/T007818\/1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["MR\/T007818\/1"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000265","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Ment Health"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,24]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Reasons for first using cannabis (RFUC) may influence later use patterns and mental health outcomes. However, limited research has explored self-medication versus social RFUCs in depth, and their associations with cannabis use patterns and psychopathology in the general population.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>We examined RFUCs and their associations with (1) reasons for continuing cannabis use, (2) weekly THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) unit consumption and (3) symptoms of paranoia, anxiety and depressive symptoms.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>We analysed data from the Cannabis&amp;Me (CAMe) population survey (March 2022\u2013July 2024), including 2573 (75.9%) current and 816 (24.1%) past cannabis users aged 18 years or older.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Findings<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Participants reported a mean weekly consumption of 206 THC units (SD=268). Initiating cannabis use for anxiety (\u03b2=36.22, p=3.3e\u221203), depression (\u03b2=40.37, p=1.74e\u221203) or because \u2018family members were using it\u2019 (\u03b2=87.43, p=1.22e\u221209) was associated with higher weekly THC units. RFUC to relieve physical discomfort (\u03b2=8.89, p=4.12e\u221207), pain (\u03b2=7.24, p=5.56e\u221206), anxiety (\u03b2=9.67, p=1.63e\u221216), depression (\u03b2=9.12, p=1.21e\u221213) and minor psychotic symptoms (\u03b2=16.46, p=1.2e\u221204) were linked to higher paranoia scores. Similar associations were observed for anxiety and depression. Conversely, starting for fun (\u03b2=\u22123.71, p=3.49e\u221205) or curiosity (\u03b2=\u22122.61, p=5e\u221203) was associated with lower paranoia and anxiety. RFUC for \u2018boredom\u2019 was linked to increased depression (\u03b2=1.09, p=3.8e\u221203).<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Initiating cannabis use for self-medication is associated with higher average THC consumption, and increased anxiety, depression and paranoia.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Clinical implications<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Asking individuals why they first used cannabis may serve as a cost-effective screening tool to identify those who could benefit from monitoring, support, or referral to intervention services.<\/jats:p>\n               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