Positive Outcomes of Cannabis Use Scale (POCUS)

Abstract

The Positive Outcomes of Cannabis Use Scale (POCUS), developed by Parnes, Prince, and Conner (2025), is a specialized, 19-item psychometric instrument designed to quantify the perceived positive consequences associated with cannabis use. Scale development utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining deductive methods (drawing from existing literature and theory) and inductive methods (incorporating direct user responses). POCUS measures four core domains of enhancement: social, mood, cognitive, and sexual. Initial psychometric evaluations demonstrated strong reliability and validity, though these evaluations were primarily conducted on predominantly white adult samples, including college students and community members in the United States.

Keywords

Incremental Validity, Positive Outcomes, Cannabis Use, Cognitive Enhancement, Social Enhancement, Mood Enhancement, Sexual Enhancement, POCUS, Psychometrics.

Authors

Parnes, Jamie E., Prince, Mark A., Conner, Bradley T.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the POCUS is to systematically examine and quantify the positive outcomes that individuals attribute to their cannabis use. Unlike instruments focusing solely on negative consequences or dependence, POCUS provides a nuanced understanding of motivational factors and perceived benefits that may reinforce continued substance use.

Specifically, the scale measures three dimensions for each positive outcome: the frequency with which the outcome occurs, the valence (positivity or negativity) of the outcome, and the perceived future influence of the outcome on subsequent cannabis consumption decisions.

Construct

POCUS measures the construct of Cannabis-Related Positive Outcomes. This construct is operationalized across four distinct enhancement domains, reflecting various perceived benefits experienced by users. By assessing these specific areas of positive effect, the scale helps researchers understand the reinforcing mechanisms driving non-problematic or recreational cannabis consumption patterns.

The four measured subscales are: Social Enhancement, Mood Enhancement, Cognitive Enhancement, and Sexual Enhancement.

Validity

Initial validation studies provided substantial evidence for the scale’s utility and external relationships. The POCUS demonstrated strong Concurrent Validity, significantly predicting past 30-day cannabis use (b = 0.48, SE = 0.05, p < .001, IRR = 1.62). Regarding Convergent Validity, the scale showed expected positive correlations: positive expectancies strongly predicted POCUS scores (b = 0.48, SE = 0.04, p < .0001), and POCUS scores, in turn, predicted reported negative consequences (b = 0.23, SE = 0.05, p < .001, IRR = 1.26).

Furthermore, the POCUS demonstrated robust Incremental Validity. It positively predicted typical use frequency (R² = .37) and significantly increased the explained variance in outcome measures (Chi-squared (1) = 53.59, p < .001) beyond existing predictors, confirming its unique contribution to the understanding of cannabis use patterns.

Reliability

The POCUS exhibits excellent internal consistency, a crucial aspect of reliability. Reliability analyses, using McDonald’s Omega, yielded values ranging from .85 to .87 across the subscales, indicating that the items within each factor consistently measure the intended construct. This high level of internal consistency suggests that the POCUS is a stable and trustworthy measure for assessing positive cannabis outcomes.

Factor Analysis

Both Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were utilized to establish the underlying structure of the 19 items. The EFA supported a clear four-factor solution, demonstrating excellent model fit (Chi-squared (116) = 166.02, p < .001, CFI = .98, SRMR = 0.02).

The subsequent CFA confirmed this hypothesized structure, also indicating excellent fit statistics (Chi-squared (171) = 2,467.87, p < .001, CFI = .97, RMSEA = .040). These results strongly support the conceptual model, including the presence of a supported higher-order factor encompassing the four specific enhancement subscales (Social, Mood, Cognitive, and Sexual).

Instrument

Test Type: Inventory/Questionnaire

Format: The instrument utilizes 19 items, each assessed using up to three concurrent Likert-type scales. These scales measure: 1) Frequency (5 response options from 1 = Never to 5 = Always/Almost Always), 2) Valence (1 = Negative to 5 = Positive), and 3) Influence on Future Use (1 = Not at All Influential to 5 = Highly Influential).

Language Available: English (Original)

Population Group: Human (Male; Female)

Age Group: Adulthood (18+)

Population Details: The initial validation sample consisted of predominantly white college students and community adults from the United States.

Test Methodology: The scale is primarily administered electronically.

Keywords

POCUS, Substance Use Research, Psychometrics, Internal Consistency, McDonald’s Omega, CFA, Convergent Validity, Reinforcement.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A

Correspondence Address: N/A

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The POCUS was developed and initially validated in 2025. No specific information regarding licensing fees or permissions is provided in the initial documentation. There are currently no official files available for direct download.

Reference’s

Parnes, J. E., Prince, M. A., & Conner, B. T. (2025). Development and initial validation of the Positive Outcomes of Cannabis Use Scale. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Research, 34(2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911231234567

Items of the Positive Outcomes of Cannabis Use Scale (POCUS)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. I felt less guarded and more willing 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.