Factors Related to Consumption Behaviors of Containing-cannabis Foods and Beverages Among High School Students in Ban Bueng District, Chonburi Province

Abstract

The growing trend of cannabis legalization has sparked curiosity among adolescents to taste cannabis-infused foods and beverages. This correlational research aimed to investigate factors associated with the consumption of cannabis-infused foods and beverages. The sample consisted of 293 high school students in grades 10 to 12 during the 2023 academic year from Ban Bueng District, Chonburi Province, Thailand, selected through cluster sampling. The research instrument was an online questionnaire covering eight sections: personal information, attitudes toward cannabis-infused food and beverage consumption, perceived risk of overdose from consuming such products, accessibility of cannabis-infused foods and beverages, parental acceptance, peer influence, media influence, and consumption behavior. All questionnaire sections demonstrated high internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from .82 to .98. Data were analyzed using point-biserial and Pearson correlation coefficients. The results indicated that the sample demonstrated a low level of consumption behavior for cannabis-infused foods and beverages (mean=19.03, SD=7.92). Statistically significant factors associated with consumption behavior included parental acceptance (r=.66, p<.001), attitude (r=.63, p<.001), academic performance (r=-.58, p<.001), perceived risk of overdose (r=.45, p<.001), peer influence (r=.43, p<.001), media influence (r=.30, p<.001), and accessibility (r=.13, p<.05). These findings can inform the development of prevention strategies and monitoring programs aimed at reducing cannabis-infused food and beverage consumption among adolescents. Key interventions may include shaping adolescents' and families' attitudes towards recognizing the risks and consequences, as well as teaching refusal skills to resist peer pressure.