Beyond deficit and harm reduction: Incorporating the spectrum of wellness as an interpretive framework for cannabis consumption

The cannabis academic literature is informed by dominant deficit, public health and harm reduction frameworks. However, a large majority of cannabis consumption appears to place outside the scope of these models that prioritise the identification and limitation of negative impacts. As such there are apparent analytical blind spots pertaining to: non-problematic use of cannabis (as defined by Global Commission on Drug Policy); the intersection of medical and recreational intents of use; and pleasure. This paper explores the academic and grey literature relating to the spectrum of wellness to assess its suitability as a framework for cannabis scholars. For millennia cannabis use has been associated with wellness models, particularly at the nexus of mind, body, and spirit. Despite this seemingly obvious match, the academic literature that incorporates cannabis consumption patterns into wellness conceptions is thin. The spectrum of wellness has both advantages and disadvantages compared to existing models and may be useful as a complementary framework that allows for broader examination of cannabis consumer activity.