Positive Outcomes of Cannabis Use Scale (POCUS)

Description

The Positive Outcomes of Cannabis Use Scale (POCUS; Parnes, Prince, & Conner, 2025) is designed to assess the perceived positive consequences associated with cannabis use. The scale was developed following established best practices, incorporating both deductive methods (based on existing literature and theory) and inductive methods (gathering responses from individuals who use cannabis) as outlined by Boateng et al. (2018). The resulting 19-item POCUS was evaluated using predominantly white adult samples consisting of college students and community adults. Factor analysis, reliability, and validity results were reported for these items.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the POCUS scale is to examine positive outcomes related to cannabis use.

Validity

• Concurrent Validity: POCUS scores significantly predicted past 30-day cannabis use (b = 0.48, SE = 0.05, p < .001, IRR=1.62), supporting concurrent validity.

• Convergent Validity: Positive expectancies significantly predicted POCUS scores (b = 0.48, SE = 0.04, p < .0001; bivariate correlation r = .42), and POCUS scores significantly predicted negative consequences (b = 0.23, SE= 0.05, p < .001, IRR= 1.26), demonstrating convergent validity.

• Incremental Validity: In hierarchical regression analyses, POCUS was a positive predictor of typical use frequency (R2 = .37). Adding the POCUS accounted for significantly more explained outcome variance (Chi-squared (1) = 53.59, p < .001).

Reliability

• Internal Consistency: All factors demonstrated excellent reliability, with McDonald’s Omega values ranging from .85 to .87.

Factor Analysis

• Exploratory Factor Analysis: After item removal, the final EFA supported a four-factor solution, had excellent fit, Chi-squared (116) = 166.02, p < .001, CFI = .98, SRMR = 0.02, and all factor loadings were acceptable with no significant cross-loadings.

• Confirmatory Factor Analysis: Further scale modification resulted in a final CFA using 19 items. This model demonstrated excellent fit, Chi-squared (171) = 2,467.87, p < .001, CFI = .97, RMSEA = .040 (90% CI: .030–.050) with standardized factor loadings that ranged from .61 to .86. Additional CFA continued to support the presence of a higher-order factor, as evidenced by excellent model fit.

Instrument

• Test Type: Original

• Format: Each POCUS item includes three Likert-type response scales with five response options: frequency (1 = Never, 2 = Rarely, 3 = Sometimes, 4 =Often, 5 = Always/Almost Always), valence (1 = Negative, 2 = Slightly Negative, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Slightly Positive, 5 = Positive), and influence on future use (1 = Not at All Influential, 2 = Slightly Influential, 3 = Somewhat Influential, 4 = Influential, 5 = Highly Influential). The administration method is electronic.

• Language Available: English

• Population Group: Human; Male; Female

• Age Group: Adulthood (18 yrs & older)

• Population Details: The scale was administered to predominantly White college students and community adults in the United States.

• Test Methodology: Test Validity; Concurrent Validity; Convergent Validity; Test Reliability; Internal Consistency; Factor Analysis; Confirmatory Factor Analysis; Exploratory Factor Analysis

Keywords

Incremental Validity; Positive Outcomes; Cannabis Use; Cognitive Enhancement; Social Enhancement; Mood Enhancement; Sexual Enhancement; Drug Usage Attitudes; Consequence; Substance Use and Addiction Measures; Outcome Expectancies

Authors

• Parnes, Jamie E.

  • Affiliation: Brown University

  • Email: [email protected]

• Prince, Mark A.

  • Affiliation: Colorado State University

• Conner, Bradley T.

  • Author Orcid Identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6069-4401

  • Affiliation: Colorado State University

• Correspondence Address: Parnes, Jamie E.: Brown University, School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies, 121 South Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island, United States, 02912, [email protected]

• Files: No files are available.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

• Permissions: May use for Research/Teaching

• Fee: No

• Test Year: 2025

• Commercial: No

Reference’s

• Parnes, Jamie E.; Prince, Mark A.; Conner, Bradley T. (2025).

• Boateng et al., 2018

Items of the Positive Outcomes of Cannabis Use Scale

Instructions:
Think about the outcomes you have experienced when using cannabis in the past month. When responding to each item below, please rate:

1. How often the outcome has actually occurred for you after using cannabis in the past month.

2. How positive or negative the outcome typically was for you.

3. How likely it is that the outcome will influence your future cannabis use.

Please respond to each statement based on your experiences after using cannabis.

Items:

After using cannabis…

1. It felt easier than normal to be open with others.

2. I had more energy to stay active.

3. It was easier to ignore things that were already bothering me.

4. A sexual experience felt more enjoyable than when I am sober.

5. I felt calmer than before getting high.

6. It was easier for me to make conversation when I usually would have talked less.

7. It was easier to begin tasks that usually are hard for me to start.

8. It was easier to distract myself from stressful thoughts.

9. I was more willing to have a sexual experience.

10. I had fewer worries than before I got high.

11. It was easier to focus on the task at hand.

12. A sexual experience felt more intense.

13. I solved a problem I had been struggling with.

14. I felt more comfortable in social situations than when I am sober.

15. It was easier for me to have a positive outlook.

16. Masturbation felt more enjoyable.

17. Tasks I usually find boring I felt excited to do.

18. I talked to someone new in a situation where I usually would have kept to myself.

19. I felt more content than I normally do.

Response Scales:

• How often:
  1 = Never
  2 = Rarely
  3 = Sometimes
  4 = Often
  5 = Always / Almost Always
  (Note: This frequency scale is the primary scale.)

• Valence:
  1 = Negative
  2 = Slightly Negative
  3 = Neutral
  4 = Slightly Positive
  5 = Positive
  (Note: This is an optional scale.)

• Influence on future use:
  1 = Not at All Influential
  2 = Slightly Influential
  3 = Somewhat Influential
  4 = Influential
  5 = Highly Influential
  (Note: This is an optional scale.)

(Scale instructions should be adjusted to fit the administered scales.)

Scoring:

A total score is calculated by taking the mean of all items (using the primary frequency scale unless otherwise specified).

Subscale scores are calculated by taking the mean of the items listed below for each subscale:

• Social Enhancement: Items 1, 6, 14, 18

• Mood Enhancement: Items 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 19

• Cognitive Enhancement: Items 2, 7, 11, 13, 17

• Sexual Enhancement: Items 4, 9, 12, 16