Momentary Cannabis Craving Scale

Description

The Momentary Cannabis Craving Scale (Davis et al., 2025) is designed to evaluate momentary cannabis craving among emerging adults using an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol. The scale initially comprised eight items, which were selected from existing measures and previous EMA studies assessing momentary craving. Five items were adapted from the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire-Short Form (MCQ-SF; Heishman et al., 2009), specifically drawing from the emotionality (three items) and purposefulness (two items) subfactors. To capture higher-intensity craving, three additional items were incorporated from other sources (Buckner, Silgado, & Schmidt, 2011; Gray et al., 2008; Cox et al., 2001).

The psychometric properties of the scale were evaluated using data from emerging adults (aged 18-21 years) in the United States who reported using cannabis at least three times per week over the past 30 days. Multilevel factor analyses led to the removal of two items (Items 6 and 8) due to statistical concerns. The two within-two between-factor model demonstrated the best fit across all fit indices. Results pertaining to within-person and between-person convergent validity were also reported.

Purpose

This scale is intended to measure momentary cannabis craving among emerging adult users.

Validity

Convergent validity was assessed using measures of craving, cannabis use disorder symptoms, frequency of use, cannabis cue reactivity, cannabis use, negative affect, and impulsivity. The scale factors demonstrated associations with cue-reactivity craving, negative affect, impulsivity, and subfactors of existing craving measures, suggesting adequate convergent validity.

Reliability

No data is Available

Factor Analysis

Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the best-fitting model specified two factors at both the between-person and within-person levels. While the two within-two between-factor model showed adequate fit (χ² (df) = 326.23(26), RMSEA = 0.077, SRMR (within/between) = 0.018/0.031, CFI = 0.976, TLI = 0.948), two items were identified as poor indicators. Item 6 loaded onto different factors at the within- and between-person levels, and Item 8 cross-loaded onto both factors at both levels. Following the removal of these items, the two within-two between-factor model exhibited improved fit indices (χ² (df) = 23.862(8), RMSEA = 0.032, SRMR (within/between) = 0.007/0.007, CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.993) in MFAs including the remaining six items.

Instrument

• Test Type: Original

• Format: The items are rated on a seven-point Likert-type scale ranging from “Strongly disagree” to “Strongly agree.”

• Language Available: English

• Population Group: Human; Male; Female

• Age Group: Adulthood (18 yrs & older); Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs)

• Population Details: Age Group Reported: 18-21 Years Old. Gender Identities Reported: Cisgender Women; Cisgender Men. Location: United States. Respondents: Emerging Adult Recent Cannabis Users

• Test Methodology: Test Validity; Convergent Validity; Factor Analysis; Exploratory Factor Analysis

Keywords

Cannabis; Craving; Ecological Momentary Assessment; Emerging Adults; Negative Affect/Emotionality; Purposefulness/General Desire to Use

Authors

• Davis, Christal N.

  • Author ORCID Identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3974-5598

  • Affiliation: Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

  • Email: [email protected]

  • Correspondence Address: Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, 109 Bee Street, Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 19104, [email protected]

• Gex, Kathryn S.

  • Affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina

• Squeglia, Lindsay M.

  • Affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina

• Trull, Timothy J.

  • Author ORCID Identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9935-7939

  • Affiliation: University of Missouri

• McCarthy, Denis M.

  • Affiliation: University of Missouri

• Baker, Nathaniel L.

  • Affiliation: Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

• Gray, Kevin M.

  • Affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina

• McRae-Clark, Aimee L.

  • Affiliation: Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

• Tomko, Rachel L.

  • Affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina

Email

Davis, Christal N.: [email protected]

Files

No data is Available

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

• Permissions: May use for Research/Teaching

• Fee: No

• Test Year: 2025

• Commercial: No

Reference’s

Davis, C. N., Gex, K. S., Squeglia, L. M., Trull, T. J., McCarthy, D. M., Baker, N. L., Gray, K. M., McRae-Clark, A. L., & Tomko, R. L. (2025). Development and initial validation of a momentary cannabis craving scale within a homogeneous sample of U.S. emerging adults. Assessment, 32(1), 77–89. https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911241237055

Items of the Momentary Cannabis Craving Scale

Momentary Cannabis Craving Scale

Items:

1. It would be great to smoke cannabis right now.

2. I would feel more in control of things right now if I could smoke cannabis.

3. Smoking cannabis would be pleasant right now.

4. I have a desire to use cannabis right now.

5. If I smoked cannabis right now, I would feel less tense.

6. I would feel less anxious if I smoked cannabis right now.

Notes:

• Items 6 (“I am craving cannabis right now”) and 8 (“Nothing would be better than using cannabis right now”) were removed due to cross-loading onto both factors.

• Factor 1 (Items 1, 3, and 4) refers to purposefulness/general craving.

• Factor 2 (Items 2, 5, and 7) refers to negative affect/emotionality craving.

• Items administered to participants used the term marijuana rather than cannabis; the term cannabis is used here due to the racist origins of the term marijuana.