In this study, we conducted a detailed analysis of 7122 eligible participants with the aim of exploring the relationship between demographic characteristics and marijuana use. The results showed that 49.6% of the participants were male and 50.4% were female, indicating that there are some differences between the sexes when it comes to marijuana use.^[18] Furthermore, non-Hispanic whites constitute approximately half (52.7%) of the marijuana-using cohort, a statistic that reflects notable disparities in the proclivity for marijuana use across racial groups.^[19] The study also revealed that participants who used marijuana typically exhibited lower levels of education and higher household income ratios PIR, indicating that socioeconomic factors may influence marijuana use habits. Despite the relatively low BMI observed in the group, the high rates of smoking and alcohol consumption suggest potential health risks.^[20] It is recommended that the combined health effects of other unhealthy behaviors be taken into account when considering the impact of marijuana use.

In examining the correlation between sedentary behavior and marijuana use, the findings of our logistic regression analyses indicated that increased sitting time was significantly and negatively associated with the likelihood of marijuana use. This finding suggests that a sedentary lifestyle may be associated with a lower risk of marijuana use, indicating that public health policymakers should prioritize the importance of appropriate PA. Further multifactorial logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the group with sitting time of 4 to 6 hours did not show significance, which may imply that there is a particular need to focus on the group with longer sitting time in lifestyle interventions. However, it is worth noting that this differs from some previous studies and that the analysis is correlational rather than causal.

When examining the relationship between sedentary behavior and cannabis use, it is important to consider that the duration of sedentary time may reflect the lifestyle and social environment of the participants. Sedentary lifestyles are often associated with a lack of exercise, reduced socialization, and mental health problems, which may collectively influence an individual’s propensity to use cannabis.^[20] It is therefore imperative to gain an understanding of the context of sedentary behavior in order to explain its relationship with marijuana use. The findings of previous research fail to substantiate the dominant cognitive appraisal of marijuana users as individuals with sedentary lifestyles. With the changing laws surrounding marijuana and the evolving perceptions of it, marijuana users are attempting to alter this stereotype,^[21] The annual 420 event and other sporting competitions demonstrate that the relationship between cannabis use and PA remains unclear. Nevertheless, societal attitudes towards marijuana users may have evolved in recent years, especially after the federal legalization of cannabidiol in 2018. This potential shift merits further investigation through future research.^[22] Previous studies have indicated that the endocannabinoid system (i.e., the cannabinoids naturally produced in the body) may serve as a pathway through which moderate to vigorous PA induces states such as runner’s high, potentially playing a role in the motivation for PA. The ingestion of exogenous cannabinoids (i.e., marijuana use) has been observed to potentially disrupt the endocannabinoid pathway; however, the precise mechanism by which this occurs remains unclear.^[23] As an alternative hypothesis, it has been proposed that external cannabinoids may aid in the recovery from pain and muscle soreness linked to PA,^[24] thereby increasing the motivation to participate in PA.^[25] Prior studies have shown that cannabis consumption can alleviate pain and inflammation in clinical populations. Nevertheless, there is no definitive evidence demonstrating an inverse relationship between cannabis use and inflammation in the general population.^[26]

Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that discrepancies in sedentary behavior across diverse ethnic groups may be significantly influenced by cultural,^[27] socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors.^[28] For instance, East Asian groups may exhibit elevated levels of sedentary behavior due to cultural influences, such as the prioritization of education and career advancement, which result in increased time spent on academic and professional pursuits.^[29] Our stratified analyses showed a significant modification of the effect of race, with an inverse association observed only in the Hispanic subgroup. The degree of protection depended on the subgroup: Mexican Americans who sat for more than 8 hours per day had a 54% lower risk of marijuana use, whereas other Hispanics who sat for 6 to 8 hours per day had a 48% lower risk of marijuana use. There are perhaps 3 reasons for this racial patterning: Long-term sitting in a familialist-oriented household may reduce drug exposure through increased family supervision and anti-drug norms, consistent with research linking collectivist values to risk-reducing behaviors^[30]; Overrepresentation in regulated static occupations (e.g., 23% of U.S. transportation workers are Hispanic) through workplace testing and supervision create structural barriers to marijuana use^[31]; and Sedentary activities at home may be a coping strategy for immigrant-related stress, consistent with evidence that cultural isolation reduces drug availability.^[32] Conversely, other ethnic groups may engage in distinct leisure activities and socialization patterns, which could influence their sedentary behavior.^[33] In order to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between sedentary behavior and marijuana use across racial groups, it is essential to investigate the potential reasons for these observed differences. The findings of this study offer new insights into the relationship between demographic characteristics and marijuana use, as well as a foundation for future public health policy development. In order to develop more effective public health interventions, it is crucial to consider the complex interplay between sedentary lifestyles, sociocultural context, and race.

In the present study, we investigated the relationship between demographic characteristics and marijuana use through a comprehensive examination of 7122 eligible participants. While the findings elucidate significant trends, it is essential to acknowledge the potential shortcomings and limitations that may influence the interpretation and generalizability of the results. First, because the study population is concentrated in specific groups, this may make it difficult to effectively generalize the findings to the national level or to other diverse populations. And the geographic distribution and group characteristics of the sample may affect participants’ usage habits and social contexts, limiting the applicability of the study’s findings to other populations, where regional differences or the way in which participants are included or excluded may affect comparisons between groups.

Second, the reliance on self-reported data brings limitations to the study results. Cannabis use behaviors and sedentary time often rely on participants’ self-reports, which may not accurately reflect the real situation due to social expectations or personal perceptions, leading to data bias.^[34] Also, cannabis use in this paper was measured in a binary way (“ever used”), which does not reflect how often or how recently someone has used cannabis. In addition, the cross-sectional design of the study limits our ability to understand causal relationships between variables. A correlation between sedentary time and cannabis use was merely observed, but the direction of causality could not be determined. A more nuanced delineation of marijuana use (light, moderate, heavy) is lacking, as are more nuanced measures of sitting time. The existing data fail to adequately account for context-specific aspects of sitting time, such as work, leisure, and social activities. Furthermore, the categorization of relative PA patterns may be inaccurate. This limitation likely results in a lack of comprehensive understanding of the effects of sedentary behavior in different contexts.^[35] Furthermore, despite the inclusion of numerous significant variables in our model, there may still be unidentified confounding factors (e.g., diet, family environment, social support, etc) that are equally capable of influencing the relationship between marijuana use and sitting time. To some extent, the complexity of this cultural and social context has yet to be fully explored. There may be inherent differences in sitting time and marijuana use behaviors among different racial groups, but there is a lack of in-depth analysis of the specific effects of these differences.^[36] Similarly, insufficient attention has been paid to the impact of different geographic areas (e.g., urban vs rural) or different economic and social contexts. This has the potential to result in an inadequate interpretation of the findings.

In conclusion, the findings of this study offer novel insights into the association between demographic variables and marijuana consumption, while also identifying numerous avenues for further investigation. Future research should endeavor to address the current limitations and conduct a more comprehensive examination of the relationship between sedentary behavior and marijuana use through a longitudinal approach, incorporating a more diverse sample, and enhancing the data collection techniques, with the aim of providing stronger evidence and rationale for the development of public health policies.