Hakim Sabzevari University
Abstract: (13 Views)
Objective: This study aimed to examine cannabis (marijuana) use as a social construction and to explore its relationship with identity formation and youth synchronization among students at Hakim Sabzevari University.Method: The study employed a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. The research population consisted of students at Hakim Sabzevari University. Given the sensitivity of the topic and the hidden nature of cannabis use, participants were recruited through snowball sampling. Ultimately, ten students (five men and five women), aged 20–25 years, were selected between autumn 2024 and summer 2025 until theoretical saturation was achieved.Findings: The findings revealed that cannabis use is socially constructed around the core concept of "synchronization" through three interconnected phases. (1) Collective synchronization: Cannabis use becomes a means of fostering emotional solidarity and developing a shared symbolic language within peer groups. (2) Low-risk synchronization: Students legitimize cannabis use by emphasizing notions such as "awareness," "dose control," and its "natural" character in contrast to synthetic drugs. (3) Youth synchronization: Cannabis use becomes embedded in students' lifestyles and collective identities, where it is perceived as a symbol of creativity, concentration, and belonging to the younger generation.Conclusion: In this context, cannabis use represents not merely an individual risk behavior but a socio-cultural response to young people's needs for belonging, identity formation, and meaning-making. These findings highlight the need to reconsider conventional prevention strategies and to develop alternative interventions capable of addressing these psychosocial needs through healthier and more constructive means.
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