Factors that influence cannabis vaping habits of college students: a qualitative study.

Introduction:
This article reports on a qualitative study examining the attitudes and perceptions of college undergraduates regarding cannabis vaping. The study aimed to add to the literature on this topic and explore the specific attitudes and perceptions that influence the decision to use cannabis vaporizers among college students.

Key points:
- The study recruited 21 undergraduate college students who reported vaping cannabis in the past 30 days.
- Participants were interviewed to determine their attitudes and perceptions regarding cannabis vaping.
- Thematic analysis uncovered six primary themes and eighteen subthemes, including convenience, discreetness, mood-altering experience, social acceptability, health and safety, and the COVID-19 pandemic impact.
- College students who use cannabis tend to both vape and use combustible methods, depending on social and physical environment.
- The population tends to vaporize cannabis for its perceived mood-altering properties.
- There is a common misperception that vaping is not harmful, but there have been cases of pulmonary illness caused by vaping.
- additional research is needed to further examine the behaviors and attitudes surrounding cannabis vaping among college undergraduates, as well as the development of interventions specific to this demographic.

Main message:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the attitudes and perceptions of college students regarding cannabis vaping in order to reduce the prevalence of the behavior. The qualitative approach provides in-depth analysis into the behavior, which can be used as the foundation to develop surveys for complementary quantitative analyses. The study also emphasizes the need for further research and interventions specific to this demographic, as the use of cannabis vaporizers among college students is a growing concern.

McKenzie N, Glassman TJ, Dake Ja, Maloney SM, Na L. Factors that influence cannabis vaping habits of college students: a qualitative study. Journal of american college health : J of aCh. Published online October 25, 2022:1-8. doi:10.1080/07448481.2022.2135375