Cannabis Use, Affect, and Emotion Regulation in Daily Life: A 3-Week Experience Sampling Method Study in People Who Smoke Cannabis Almost Daily

Background and Aims: Although many people who use cannabis report mood-enhancing effects, affective responses are thought to vary within and between individuals. This study examined the bidirectional associations between momentary affect and cannabis use and the potential moderating role of emotion regulation in this. Design: Intensive longitudinal observational study using Experience Sampling Method (ESM)Setting: DenmarkParticipants: Adults in Denmark who use cannabis near daily (N = 113; Mage = 31.57 years; 60.2% male).Method and Measurements: Participants completed a baseline survey (substance use and emotion regulation difficulties) and 21 days of experience sampling (three assessments daily; affect and use). We used multilevel models to assess: 1) the associations between positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) and subsequent cannabis use, 2) whether cannabis use predicted changes in affect shortly after use (at the same assessment), and 3) whether cannabis use predicted changes in affect at a later moment (at the next assessment). Next, we assessed whether emotion regulation difficulties moderated associations tested in Models 1 and 2. Findings: Higher PA predicted a greater likelihood of cannabis use before the next assessment, and cannabis use predicted increased PA at the same assessment, but not at the next assessment. NA was not related to use or vice versa at group level. Emotion regulation difficulties moderated the association between PA and subsequent cannabis use, such that individuals with greater difficulties had a weaker positive association between positive affect and subsequent cannabis use. Furthermore, emotion regulation difficulties moderated short-term effects of cannabis use on NA, with individuals with higher emotion regulation difficulties showing lower NA shortly after use compared to non-use moments. Conclusions: Within individuals who use cannabis near daily, relatively higher momentary PA, but not NA, preceded and followed cannabis use. Cannabis use was associated with higher PA at the same assessment but did not predict PA hours later. Individuals with greater emotion regulation difficulties may experience short term reductions in NA after use.