Tony Yang

George Washington University, USA

Title: Cannabis and Psychedelics Among U.S. Young Adults: Use, Messaging Exposure, Perceptions, and Legalization Support

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Biography

Y. Tony Yang, Sc.D., is an endowed professor (with tenure) in Health Policy at the George Washington (GW) University School of Nursing. He also holds a joint appointment at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management. His scholarship focuses on the impact of law and policy on healthcare delivery and population health outcomes. Dr. Yang has authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including NEJM, JAMA, and The Lancet, and is the author of Achieving Health Equity: The Role of Law and Policy (2024). He has received over $7 million in research grants as a principal investigator. Dr. Yang is a member of the World Health Organization’s Technical Advisory Group on TB vaccines, serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Health Policy and Technology, and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics. He holds graduate degrees in Public Health and Health Policy from Harvard and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Abstract

This study examined correlates of cannabis and psychedelic use and legalization support among U.S. young adults (N = 3,227; ages 18–34) using 2025 survey data. Past-6-month cannabis use was reported by 40.5% of participants, and past-year psychedelic use by 11.9% (most commonly psilocybin/amanita). Compared to cannabis, psychedelics had significantly lower legalization support, less promotional and risk-message exposure, lower social acceptability, and higher perceived addictiveness and harm. Multivariable analyses showed that lower perceived addictiveness and harm, higher social acceptability, more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), higher mental health symptoms (PHQ-4), and greater promotional and risk-message exposure were associated with both cannabis and psychedelic use. For psychedelics specifically, promotional-message exposure was strongly associated with use, intentions, and legalization support. Mental health symptoms and ACEs were also linked to greater legalization support for both substances. Findings highlight that perceptions, mental health, and message exposure play key roles in substance use and policy attitudes. Given the rapid shifts in psychedelic policy and the less favorable but evolving perceptions of psychedelics compared to cannabis, there is an urgent need for evidence-based communication about risks, benefits, and population health impacts. Public health efforts should pair harm reduction and trauma-informed prevention with balanced information to support informed decision-making among young adults.