Research
New WSU study: Cannabis ads are shaping how young adults think about sex
A new WSU study found that cannabis ads are doing exactly what you'd expect: shaping how young adults think about sex. The research suggests these advertisements, which link weed with intimacy and romance, are influencing people's intentions to use the drug before sex. That has real implications for sexual decision-making and consent. It's not a shocker, but it's good to have the data. WSU researchers are asking the kind of questions that matter in the real world, not just in a lab.
This isn't the only Coug research looking at how everyday stuff affects our bodies. Another recent WSU study found that the microscopic organisms on a baby's skin might tip off researchers to early allergies. Two different studies, same instinct: pay attention to what's really going on beneath the surface.
As for the cannabis-and-sex study, we all know advertising works. That's why companies spend billions on it. But when the product being sold can mess with your judgment in intimate situations, the stakes get higher. The study doesn't tell you what to do. It just lays out what's happening. Read it, think about it, and maybe look twice at the next ad that makes a joint look like a love potion. Go Cougs.
