Prevalence of Cannabis Use Among Indigenous Populations – A Systematic Review
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21645810 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Meghashyam Bhat (0000-0001-5243-7560, The University of Adelaide, corresponding author), Sreevidya Bhat (0000-0002-0975-5931, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Srinivas Institute of Dental Sciences, Affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences), Divesh Sardana (0000-0002-6486-5893, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Indiana University School of Dentistry and Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University), Olga Anikeeva (0000-0002-8725-4171, The University of Adelaide) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-10 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-26 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Substance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10826084.2026.2670614 |
| PMID | 42190074 |
| OpenAlex | W7162442677 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 56 |
BACKGROUND: Monitoring the prevalence of cannabis use is essential for a more complete understanding of the impacts and influence of a country's policies regarding its use. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence and compare the prevalence of cannabis use among Indigenous populations globally. METHODS: PubMed/Medline, ProQuest, and Scopus databases were systematically searched for relevant articles published between January 1, 2010, and July 31, 2024. Relevant articles that reported prevalence or proportion of Indigenous peoples using cannabis were assessed for risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool, and evidence from included studies was synthesized. RESULTS: = 1). Among young people (12-19 years), prevalence of reported lifetime cannabis use was the highest among Indigenous Canadians (91.1%), followed by Indigenous Americans in the USA (76%), and the lowest among Māori people in New Zealand (15.9%). Among adults, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia reported lower prevalence of cannabis use (43%) than Indigenous people in Canada (53.2%). Daily use reported across these populations was the highest in Australia (50.4%). These findings reflect data from diverse Indigenous populations, each with distinct cultural, historical, and social contexts. CONCLUSIONS: Indigenous young people and adults worldwide report varying prevalence of lifetime and current cannabis use. Indigenous people in Canada and the USA reported higher prevalence than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia and Māori people in New Zealand. These findings highlight the need to strengthen culturally safe and informed health-care delivery across diverse populations, with future approaches benefiting from partnership with Indigenous communities to ensure relevance to community priorities
Cannabis · Indigenous · Marijuana smoking · Population · Public health · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Psychedelics and Drug Studies · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes · Epidemiology
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Smoking behaviours and other substance use among Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australian secondary students, 2017
Early‐onset smoking and vaping of cannabis
Substance use disorders among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody
Alcohol and other drug use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men entering prison in New South Wales
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Individual and population level impacts of illicit drug use, sexual risk behaviours on sexually transmitted infections among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Cannabis use and patterns among middle and older aged Canadians prior to legalization
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Social determinants of health among residential areas with a high tuberculosis incidence in a remote Inuit community
Mental health and substance use in an urban First Nations population in Hamilton, Ontario
Sociocultural determinants of alcohol and cannabis use and misuse among Nunavimmiut
Development of a Risk Algorithm to Better Target STI Testing and Treatment Among Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Interview Mode Effects in Surveys of Drug and Alcohol Use
Illicit and prescription drug problems among urban Aboriginal adults in Canada
The prevalence of distress, depression, anxiety, and substance use issues among Indigenous post-secondary students in Canada
An Examination of Marijuana Use Among a Vulnerable Population in Canada
| Highly cited | No |
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