Designing for calm: exploring the impact of colored light on autonomic regulation and anxiety in patients awaiting cataract surgery.

Cannabis is the most commonly used federally illicit substance in the United States, with nearly 19% of individuals reporting past-year use (). Use is particularly prevalent among young adults, a developmental period characterized by increased experimentation and risk-taking behaviors. At the same time, rates of cannabis use disorder (CUD) have risen, raising concerns about the factors that contribute to both initiation and problematic use (). Although some individuals report using cannabis to manage stress or trauma-related symptoms such as insomnia or intrusive memories (), evidence supporting its therapeutic benefit for psychological disorders remains inconclusive (). Cannabis use does not occur in isolation but is influenced by a constellation of psychological, behavioral, and environmental factors. Mental health symptoms including depression and anxiety are consistently associated with increased likelihood of cannabis use and misuse (; ). Co-occurring substance use, particularly alcohol consumption, is also a strong predictor of cannabis use patterns (). Together, these factors suggest that cannabis use may function, for some individuals, as part of a broader pattern of coping with psychological distress. Among the environmental and developmental factors associated with cannabis use, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) represent a particularly important and well-documented risk factor. ACEs include potentially traumatic events such as physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as household dysfunction due to divorce, domestic violence, parental mental illness, substance use, or incarceration (). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that one in seven U. S. children experiences abuse or neglect annually (). A substantial body of research links ACE exposure to increased risk of substance use and substance use disorders across the lifespan (; ; ; ).