Date of Submission

2023

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, ABPP

First Advisor

Stephen Poteau, PhD

Second Advisor

Barbara Golden, PsyD

Third Advisor

Michelle Lent, PhD

Abstract

Many states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use despite it being classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. Although research regarding its efficacy is limited, one of the most common medical marijuana referral reasons is anxiety and patients often report experiencing reductions in anxiety. Many patients have beliefs about the effects of medical marijuana, called outcome expectancies, which may differ based on previous recreational marijuana use. These beliefs may influence anxiety outcomes, but this relationship is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between patients’ medical marijuana outcome expectancies, previous recreational marijuana use, and levels of anxiety in adults using medical marijuana for anxiety over the first three months of use. It was hypothesized that (a) participants with more years of previous recreational marijuana use will report significantly higher positive medical marijuana outcome expectancies at baseline, (b) higher positive medical marijuana outcome expectancies at baseline will be associated with lower levels of anxiety at the 3- month follow-up, and (c) previous recreational marijuana use will moderate the relationship between positive medical marijuana outcome expectancies and levels of anxiety at the 3-month follow-up. This study used archival data from a larger study being conducted at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and funded by Organic Remedies. Participants included 73 adults who are new to medical marijuana treatment and have a medical marijuana referral for anxiety only. Study hypotheses were not supported suggesting that a placebo-like effect may not be occurring for positive medical marijuana outcome expectancies on anxiety outcomes. Future research should capitalize on these limitations to further understand the effects of outcome expectancies on anxiety.

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