ARE TRADITIONAL SEX-DIFFERENCES LESS CONSPICUOUS IN YOUNG CANNABIS USERS THAN IN OTHER YOUNG-PEOPLE

Recent research has revealed conspicuously few distinctions between yo ung males and females who use cannabis. Such findings may reflect the general slackening of the sex-role pattern in the younger generations. Alternatively, they may reflect distinctive characteristics of the ca nnabis culture. Using data from a nationwide representative sample (n= 1,478) of young Norwegians (21-24 years old), this study explores whet her ''traditional'' sex differences in respect to mental health and al cohol use are less conspicuous among users than among nonusers of cann abis. The respondents' sex-role-related values and preferences were al so studied. Results indicate that the sex differences in mental health did not vary between users and nonusers of cannabis; however, female cannabis users were disproportionately young when they experienced the ir first intoxication by alcohol. Their level of drinking was also dis proportionately high. This implied that the sex difference in alcohol use was smaller among users than among nonusers: male users of cannabi s consumed 2.8 times more alcohol than their female counterparts, wher eas the corresponding male to female ratio was 3:2 in the nonusers. Th e extensive use of alcohol in female cannabis users did not reflect me ntal health problems or a rejection of traditional sex-role characteri stics. Cannabis-using males were less typically masculine in their val ues and preferences than other males, but not more feminine. The measu res for sex-role-related preferences did not discriminate between fema le users and female nonusers of cannabis.