How young adults value cannabis and tobacco when they use both
Official title: Behavioral Economic Demand for Cannabis and Tobacco among Young Adult Dual Users
Funded at California State University San Marcos · NIH-11180093 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how young adults who use both cannabis and tobacco value each drug and how those values relate to dependence and quitting.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State University San Marcos NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Marcos, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $149,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM145553-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180093 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are young adults who currently use both cannabis and tobacco.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not use both substances, older adults outside the study's age range, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment may not directly benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would be asked whether you currently use both cannabis and tobacco and complete surveys and short behavioral tasks that measure how much you want each product under different costs and situations. Researchers will follow participants over time to track changes in these measures and to see whether they predict dependence, quit attempts, or switching between products. They will also collect information on beliefs, perceived risk, social acceptability, and identity to see how these factors tie into wanting and using each substance. The team plans to combine these results into a theory-based model to guide future prevention and treatment efforts for dual users.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help tailor prevention and quitting strategies for people who use both cannabis and tobacco.
How similar studies have gone: Prior behavioral economic studies have linked demand to dependence for single substances, but applying these methods specifically to cannabis–tobacco dual use is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
California State University San Marcos
San Marcos, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pulvers, Kimberley — California State University San Marcos
- Study coordinator: Pulvers, Kimberley
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.