Digital Commons Network^™

Which Voices Matter? Ballot Initiatives, Marijuana, And Legislative Paternalism In Utah, Rachel Robinson-Greene

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

Drivers headed toward Salt Lake City on I-15 are sure to notice two things—the breathtaking Wasatch mountain range (when the thickness of inversion doesn’t obscure it) and a striking number of billboard ads warning citizens of the dangers of the misuse of opioids. This is not without good reason—Utah ranks 9th on the CDC’s list of states hit the hardest by opioid overdose. Misuse of opioids is responsible for 23 deaths every month, according to the Utah Department of Health. Empathy is called for when it comes to addiction in general, and addiction to opioids in particular. After all, many …

Toxoplasma Gondii Seropositivity And Substance Use In Us Adults, Bruce L. Brown, Andrew N. Berrett, Shawn D. Gale, Lance D. Erickson, Evan L. Thacker, Dawson W. Hedges

Faculty Publications

The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) infects humans resulting in acute toxoplasmosis, an infection that in immunocompetent people is typically mild but results in persistent latent toxoplasmosis. In that T. gondii appears to affect dopamine synthesis and because addicting drugs affect midbrain dopamine transmission, latent toxoplasmosis could influence substance use. Using both the third and continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we used logistic regression to test for associations between T. gondii seropositivity and subject self-report of having ever used tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. …

South Broadway: A Qualitative Analysis Of Legal Marijuana And Place In A Denver Commercial District, Nicholas T. Van De Voorde

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The economic impact of legalized marijuana has been massive, but does legal marijuana have the impact to create new types of urban spaces? The legalization of formerly illicit vices has created urban spaces thematically constructed around vice, such as The Strip in Las Vegas (gambling) or The Wallen in Amsterdam (prostitution). This paper suggests that legalized marijuana similarly has the potential to construct vice-themed urban spaces in a post-industrial economic paradigm defined by consumption. Using Denver’s South Broadway (an urban area that has been rebranded as “The Green Mile” due to the outgrowth of marijuana businesses in the area) as …

Baked And Buzzed: Investigating The Influence Of Co-Use Of Cannabis And Alcohol On White Matter Integrity In Emerging Adults, Natasha E. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Growing evidence suggests alcohol and cannabis use independently alter neural structure and functioning, particularly during sensitive developmental time periods such as adolescence and emerging adulthood. However, there has been minimal investigation into the effects co-occurring use of these two substances, despite preliminary evidence of unique acute and psychopharmacological changes due to using alcohol and cannabis together.

Method: Data drawn from the IDEAA Consortium was utilized to assess white matter integrity as measured by FreeSurfer’s TRACULA in emerging adults (n=192; 16-27 years old). Timeline Follow-Back was used to calculate past month cannabis use, alcohol use, co-use days, binge alcohol episode, …

Exploring The Association Between How Social Media Affects Attitudes Toward Marijuana Legalization, Troy Adam Aubut Ii

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

As support for marijuana legalization continues to rise, it’s important to explore how the use of social media may be affecting the attitudes of Americans around this controversial topic. Social media has become a part of everyday life for most as it allows easy communication to anyone anywhere and allows the exchanging of influential ideas over a broad range of topics, especially marijuana legalization. As such, this study utilized data from the 2016 General Social Survey to examine the relationship between how the general use of social media affects attitudes toward marijuana legalization. The findings of this study suggest that …

Toxoplasma Gondii And Substance Use - Project Data, Andrew Berrett

ScholarsArchive Data

The data utilized in this project originated from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data sets. Specifically, we utilized data from the NHANES III and 2009-2014 continuous NHANES data sets. Data files pertinent to our project were downloaded from the NHANES website (NHANES.com) and merged into two master data files, one for the NHANES III and one for the continuous NHANES. Following the merges, some variables were modified or recoded for the purposes of the project. Therefore, the data files associated with this entry include both the original NHANES data as well …

"What's Ur Type?" Contextualized Classification Of User Types In Marijuana-Related Communications Using Compositional Multiview Embedding, Ugur Kursuncu, Manas Gaur, Usha Lokala, Anurag Illendula, Krishnaprasad Thirunarayan, Raminta Daniulaityte, Amit P. Sheth, Budak Arpinar

Kno.e.sis Publications

With 93% of pro-marijuana population in US favoring legalization of medical marijuana, high expectations of a greater return for Marijuana stocks, and public actively sharing information about medical, recreational and business aspects related to marijuana, it is no surprise that marijuana culture is thriving on Twitter. After the legalization of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes in 29 states, there has been a dramatic increase in the volume of drug-related communication on Twitter. Specifically, Twitter accounts have been established for promotional and informational purposes, some prominent among them being American Ganja, Medical Marijuana Exchange, and Cannabis Now. Identification and characterization …

A Little Dab Will Do Ya: An Exploration Of First Time Dabbers On Youtube, Christopher L. Coker

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This thesis project is an in-depth examination of a rising subculture within cannabis users. With this research project, my aim was to explore and provide insight into the initial experiences of novice cannabis concentrate use as represented on YouTube while they are initiated into this emerging cannabis subculture. Referred to as “dabbing” or “dabs,” this highly potent and concentrated form of cannabis is being utilized by cannabis users to achieve greater highs and effects than those from the traditional cannabis flower. In this study I explored first-time “dabbers” by drawing from social media content in the form of YouTube videos …

Examining The Role Of Impulsivity And Expectancies In Predicting Marijuana Use : An Application Of The Acquired Preparedness Model, Rachel Luba

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Impulsivity and substance use covary. Smith’s acquired preparedness model

Psychological Reactance Theory And Marijuana Craving, Melissa Nicole Slavin

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Psychological Reactance Theory (Brehm, 1966) asserts that people experience reactance (a retaliatory motivational state characterized by negative affect and resistant attitudes) when they perceive their autonomy is threatened. Reactance may lead to “boomerang effects”, where the individual is drawn toward the restricted object or behavior. Anti-marijuana (MJ) messages designed to discourage use might heighten reactance and inadvertently lead to greater craving for MJ and stronger intentions to use. The current online experiment determined that a message discouraging use of MJ evoked greater reactance in student and community member participants than a harm-reduction message. Additionally, reactance was associated with participants’ indirect …

Rocky Mountain High: An Investigation Of Downhill Snow Sports And Marijuana Use, Silas Phillips

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

What comes to mind when you imagine a ‘stoner?’ Most stereotype the term– some couch-bound, chip-munching slouch with a foggy gaze (and perhaps a goofy grin). Marijuana and its chemical effects hold an increasing presence in American minds. With full legalization of recreational use in 8 states and various degrees of medical legality in 18 others, the substance is caught up in a cultural shift. Our society is tackling the ethicality of marijuana, and the stigmas built around the drug are changing. What was once cited for ‘reefer madness’ is becoming (to some) a medical treatment, or just another way …

Factors That Influence The Perceived Risk Of Driving Under The Influence Of Small Amounts Of Marijuana And Alcohol (Dui-Sama), Gabriel Andrew Frietze

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The national trend toward the legalization of recreational marijuana use will likely increase the number of opportunities for young adults to legally drive under the combined influence of small amounts of marijuana and alcohol (DUI-SAMA). Research suggests that driving performance is moderately impaired when small amounts of marijuana and alcohol are consumed independently; however, driving performance is dramatically impaired when both substances are consumed in combination. The present study investigated the perceived risk of DUI-SAMA under two levels of stress (no stress, stress) and three levels of urgency (non-urgent, semi-urgent, urgent). One-hundred and sixty-five marijuana users (Mage = 20.3) were …