By Max Sargent


There is a stereotype that those who smoke weed are chilled out and harmless. And indeed, this is true in some cases. For most, the idea that there may be a relationship between cannabis use and the perpetration of domestic abuse, or intimate partner violence (IPV), would seem unlikely, shocking, and sad.

Here, we look at studies that attempt to discover whether there is an association between cannabis and IPV, and if so, what that association may be.

Substance Use and IPV

It has long been known that substance abuse is a significant risk factor when it comes to predicting IPV.

Studies such as those by Stuart et al.[1] and Smith et al.,[2] to name but two, demonstrate the strong, positive correlation between alcohol/drug use and domestic violence within couples. Conclusions tend to be bleak, indicating that using certain drugs is likely to influence perpetration or victimisation in IPV.

For instance, the study conducted by Smith et al. illuminates the fact that different drugs, and different combinations of drugs, are likely to cause different outcomes. Alcohol and cocaine are most likely to be associated with committing IPV, while cannabis and opioids are most likely to be associated with a user being the victim of IPV.

Another study, by Kraanen et al.,[3] indicates similar findings. They set out to investigate whether drug use could be used to predict the occurrence of IPV within couples. Ultimately, they concluded it could. In males, they found that alcohol and cannabis use concurrently predicted IPV perpetration and/or victimisation. In females, alcohol and cocaine use were the strongest predictors. Perhaps unhelpfully, grouping perpetration and victimisation together means that it can be hard to determine what role the substances actually play.

Given that, it’s evident that while a correlation between substance use and IPV does exist, it is not as simple as saying that using substances is more likely to cause one to commit IPV. However, it does seem likely that it makes one more likely to be involved in a relationship within which IPV occurs.

Cannabis Use and IPV: Is There Cause for Concern?

But what role does cannabis play in the occurrence of IPV? Before continuing, it’s worth noting that, as things stand, it’s pretty hard to draw a conclusion one way or another. Even harder is assessing whether cannabis use (or wider substance use for that matter) plays a causal role in IPV perpetration/victimisation, or whether it is a symptom of something else.

Studies Demonstrating a Positive Correlation

There are a number of studies that show a positive correlation between cannabis use and the occurrence of IPV.

Cannabis Cultivation: Breaking the Stigma Around the Herb

  • Shorey et al.

Published in 2018, a study by Shorey et al.[4] found a positive relationship between cannabis use and domestic abuse.

The meta-study analised data from 14 previous studies to ascertain if there was a significant relationship between cannabis and domestic abuse. The authors then conducted their own research, and tried to account for other factors such as alcohol abuse and anti-social behaviour disorders.

In line with the findings of Low et al.,[5] it was concluded that men who used alcohol and cannabis were at a greater risk of IPV perpetration compared to men who used alcohol alone. Though this does not entirely isolate cannabis as a risk factor on its own, it does indicate that, at least in conjunction with alcohol, it increases the risk of IPV.

It is worth noting that for their own research, the study authors focused only on men who had already been prosecuted for committing domestic violence. This sample raises clear methodological issues due to the lack of control group. By focusing on those who had already perpetrated IPV, this research tells us more about the relationship between cannabis and IPV among previous perpetrators, consequently limiting our ability to make generalisations on the issue at large.

  • Cunradi et al.

A study from 2015 by Cunradi et al.[6] demonstrates similar findings. Interestingly, the aim of this study was to discover what impact concordant or discrepant substance use had. This means if one partner uses and another does not, how does this change the dynamic in regard to IPV?

Once more, the conclusions were fairly bleak. It found that in discrepant, female-only drinking couples, male-female IPV was more likely to occur. Likewise, in couples in which both individuals used cannabis, male-female IPV was again more likely to occur. However, in couples that demonstrated discrepant cannabis use where only the male used it, occurrences of female-male violence were more likely.

One major issue about generalising from this study is that every couple included in the sample lived within the state of California. While California may be a big place, it perhaps does not provide a broad-enough demographic from which to make global assumptions. Nevertheless, the findings are interesting, and the demonstration of the relationship between concordance/discrepancy and abuse is highly illuminating.

Cannabis Cultivation: Breaking the Stigma Around the Herb

Studies Demonstrating a Negative Correlation

So far, we have focused on studies that suggest cannabis plays a role in increasing the likelihood of domestic abuse. But there is also evidence to suggest otherwise.

  • Smith et al.

A 2015 study, again by Smith et al.,[7] is perhaps the most significant in terms of suggesting that cannabis and domestic abuse may in fact share an inverse relationship.

Taking 634 couples and assessing them over a 9-year period, it looked to discover whether cannabis use increased or decreased the likelihood of IPV perpetration/victimisation. Importantly, it also asked couples about occurrences of IPV prior to marriage.

On the whole, the study found a significantly negative relationship between concurrent cannabis use and domestic abuse. The only instance in which cannabis use was associated with a greater likelihood of abuse was in couples where only the female used it, and in which the female had perpetrated IPV in the year prior to marriage. Outside of this context, cannabis was not found to increase the likelihood of abuse.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, in couples where both partners used cannabis, abuse rates were lowest.

While a difficult task, this research did attempt to account for other factors, such as anti-social behaviour disorders—though this is always hard, as not everyone who has these disorders has been diagnosed.

There are a few limitations surrounding this study, some of which the authors themselves point out. The major issue is that considering cannabis use as a singular metric does not reveal the whole story. For instance, if there is a causal factor at play, it could be the high itself, the effects of continued usage, or withdrawal from ceasing usage. Essentially, this point shows that while it may be possible to draw general conclusions, pinpointing which factors are actually at play is much more difficult.

Furthermore, it seems that while the study authors attempted to account for anti-social behaviour disorders, further alcohol and drug use were not taken into account, meaning that we get a very narrow view of what is likely a much broader picture.

Conclusion: What Role Does Cannabis Play in Domestic Abuse?

As can be seen, research into the association between cannabis use and IPV is sparse, with hardly any dedicated research focusing specifically on cannabis use. Even when it has, researchers have often struggled to isolate cannabis use from other factors.

In fairness, though, it is well known that cannabis is often used alongside other drugs—and by many individuals who suffer from mental illnesses—and therefore, trying to assess cannabis use in isolation may be near-impossible, and perhaps not all that illuminating.

By recognising that occurrences of IPV are higher in those who use cannabis alongside other drugs, and those who suffer from mental illness, it helps us build a bigger picture of the intricate interactions between substance abuse, illness, and domestic abuse.

External Resources:
  1. The role of drug use in a conceptual model of intimate partner violence in men and women arrested for domestic violence - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Intimate partner violence and specific substance use disorders: findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. Prediction of intimate partner violence by type of substance use disorder - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. Marijuana use is associated with intimate partner violence perpetration among men arrested for domestic violence https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. APA PsycNet https://doi.apa.org
  6. SAGE Journals: Your gateway to world-class journal research https://journals.sagepub.com
  7. Couples’ marijuana use is inversely related to their intimate partner violence over the first nine years of marriage https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: