Youth and social media marketing of hemp-derived cannabis products
Official title: Youth Appeal of Hemp-derived Intoxicating Cannabis Product Marketing on Social Media
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11454966 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Young people are increasingly exposed to hemp-derived cannabis product marketing on social media, and this study looks at how that marketing might influence their attitudes and curiosity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $431,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DA064954-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454966 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents around 14 years old and high school students (e.g., 12th grade) who use or are exposed to social media-based cannabis marketing.
✕Less likely to help
Children who are not exposed to social media marketing or who are not within the target age range may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project examines how online marketing for hemp-derived intoxicating cannabis products such as Delta-8 THC reaches teens and how it shapes their views and willingness to try these products. Researchers will analyze marketing content on popular platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube and study potential links to teen attitudes and behaviors. The study is designed to generate findings that can inform parents, schools, and policymakers about the influence of digital marketing on youth health. Outcomes may guide future prevention messaging and policy considerations to protect young people. Data collection will occur in community settings and involve analysis of publicly available content and survey responses from participants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help reduce youth exposure to risky cannabis marketing and support policies that protect teens.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on tobacco/alcohol marketing shows marketing influences youth attitudes; this study applies similar methods to hemp-derived cannabis products, which is a newer area.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen-Sankey, Julia Cen — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Chen-Sankey, Julia Cen
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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.