Understanding the Acceptance of Medical Marijuana: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia

Understanding the Acceptance of Medical Marijuana: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Understanding the Acceptance of Medical Marijuana: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia Abu Bakar Rahman, Nurul Athirah Naserrudin, Zamtira Seman, Zaikiah Mohd Zin, and 9 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5756813/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background: The acceptance of medical marijuana is controversial globally, with varying degrees of legalization and public acceptance associated by cultural and legal contexts. Understanding the level of public acceptance of medical marijuana is crucial for its effective integration into healthcare, considering its potential therapeutic benefits and the stringent drug policies in Malaysia. This study examined the prevalence and associated factors with medical marijuana acceptance among Malaysians, with a focus on behavioral lifestyles. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design involving an online survey targeting Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above. A non-probability sampling method was employed, in which the survey link was distributed via email groups, WhatsApp groups, Facebook, and participants were also encouraged to share the link with others in their network. The self-administered questionnaire, available in both Malay and English, consisted of 42 items covering demographic information, lifestyle behaviors, and perceptions toward medical marijuana. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 28.0. Results: A total of 2,047 respondents participated. Medical marijuana acceptance was higher among males, n=1014 (72.9%) than among females, n=245 (37.3%). Additionally, individuals with lower educational levels exhibited higher medical marijuana acceptance. Smoking, n=552 (79.2%), previous drug use, n=656 (83.1%), and alcohol consumption, n=95 (67.4%) were associated with higher acceptance rates. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that sex (male), higher levels of education, self-employment, and low perceived risk are significant predictors of acceptance. Conclusions: Behavioral lifestyle factors associate with the acceptance of medical marijuana in Malaysia. Individuals who smoke, use drugs, and consume alcohol are more inclined to accept medical marijuana. Understanding how these behavioral factors influence acceptance is essential for effectively integrating medical marijuana into Malaysia’s healthcare system. Attitude to Health Cannabis Cross-Sectional Studies Malaysia Surveys and Questionnaires Background The acceptance of medical marijuana varies significantly across the globe, influenced by diverse cultural and regulatory frameworks [ 1 ]. Medical marijuana has been a controversial topic since its inception [ 2 ]. Many countries have reclassified marijuana from a controlled substance to a less regulated or unregulated one [ 3 ]. Public acceptance of medical marijuana is higher in nations with liberal drug policies, including South Africa [ 6 ], Canada, and certain states in the United States of America [ 7 ]. Although some Asian countries have moved to decriminalize and legalize medical marijuana, the Malaysian government has maintained the status quo to allow for a more comprehensive evaluation of the risks and benefits to the community [ 3 ]. Conservative countries with stringent drug laws, including Malaysia, often have lower rates of acceptance, with behavioral lifestyle factors associated with public attitudes [ 3 , 6 ]. Medical marijuana is effective for several conditions, including chronic non-cancer pain, epilepsy, sleeping improvement and chemotherapy-induced nausea [ 3 , 38 ]. However, the use of marijuana as a therapeutic drug has yielded mixed results, and the potential risks of negative effects, including addiction and dependence, remain a cause for concern [ 8 ]. Numerous studies have evaluated the long-term effects of marijuana use on health and identified respiratory complications, including chronic cough, increased phlegm production, pneumonia, chest pain, decreased lung function, and lung infections among marijuana users [ 28 , 36 ]. Additionally, excessive marijuana use and the consequent inhalation of smoke may be associated with lung cancer. However, the strength of the evidence is inadequate, necessitating further research to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the association between marijuana use and lung cancer. Marijuana is associated with other cancers, including melanoma, urogenital, breast, colorectal, and head and neck cancer; however, the evidence is insufficient [ 9 , 39 ]. Conversely, research into medical cannabis applications, such as a sublingual spray combining cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), highlights potential health benefits. In a clinical study on patients with type II diabetes, this formulation improved blood sugar control, lipid profiles, and insulin sensitivity, with minimal side effects. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of CBD, combined with the metabolic effects of THC, underscore its therapeutic promise [37, 38]. Furthermore, medical marijuana is widely used to manage cancer-related symptoms, including chronic pain, nausea, vomiting, and anxiety. A 2024 study discovered that more than 33% of patients with cancer surveyed used cannabis post-diagnosis, citing benefits such as improved quality of life, better symptom management, and reduced dependence on other medications [ 39 ]. Individual behaviors and lifestyle choices frequently correlate with the acceptance of medical marijuana use. Individuals with a history of substance use are more inclined to accept medical marijuana. This correlation can be attributed to their familiarity with the substance and possibly a more permissive attitude toward its use [ 10 , 33 ]. Individuals who avoid substance use, particularly those from conservative backgrounds, may have lower acceptance rates. Cultural norms and stringent drug policies stigmatize marijuana use, reinforcing this trend [ 11 ]. Malaysia has notably strict drug laws, with severe penalties for possession and use. For example, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1952 imposes harsh penalties, including capital punishment, for specific offenses involving marijuana [ 12 ]. Other countries, including Singapore and Indonesia, have similar strict drug laws and impose severe penalties for drug offenses [ 13 ]. Conservative legal frameworks and societal norms can significantly hinder the acceptance of medical marijuana despite its acknowledged medical benefits in other contexts [ 14 ]. Recently, there has been an attempt to legalize marijuana use because of its therapeutic potential for disease prevention and health. Therefore, understanding the complexities of public acceptance is critical for policy formulation. Individual lifestyle behaviors, including smoking, drug or marijuana use, and alcohol consumption, significantly correlate with individual perceptions toward medical marijuana [ 15 – 17 , 29 ]. Individuals with prior drug or marijuana experience tend to support its legalization and medical use [ 6 , 18 – 19 ]. They have a better understanding of its potential benefits and risks than those without prior experience, who may rely solely on societal narratives or legal perspectives [ 19 ]. Methods Study Design This study employed a cross-sectional design to assess the prevalence and key factors associated with public acceptance of medical marijuana in Malaysia. An online survey was administered to Malaysian adults to explore the associations between sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral lifestyle factors, and perceived risk with attitudes toward medical marijuana. This comprehensive evaluation aimed to generate evidence to support the integration of medical marijuana into the healthcare system and contribute to improved public health outcomes. Sampling and Study Population This study targeted Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above, regardless of marijuana user status. A “user” was defined as an individual who had used marijuana within the last 12 months [ 20 ]. The inclusion criteria were: (i) aged 18 years or older, (ii) access to the internet, and (iii) proficiency in either Malay or English. Malay and English were selected as they are the two most widely used languages in Malaysia, especially in education and digital communication. Using these languages ensured broad accessibility and minimized potential issues with translation or misinterpretation. Individuals who were unwilling to provide informed consent or who lacked internet access were excluded. Sample Size Determination The required sample size was calculated using the standard formula for prevalence studies [ 22 , 23 ]. An initial estimate based on the national prevalence of current drug use in Malaysia (0.5%) [ 21 ] yielded a minimum of 73 respondents, which was deemed insufficient for robust statistical analysis. Therefore, a more conservative approach was adopted using the maximum-variance method (50% prevalence), which is recommended when dealing with low-prevalence phenomena. This approach yielded a base sample size of 383 participants, based on a 5% margin of error and a 95% confidence level. An additional 30% was added to account for potential non-response, resulting in a final target sample size of 548 participants. However, a total of 2,047 respondents were successfully recruited after one month of data collection, exceeding the minimum requirement. Sampling Procedure A non-probability, voluntary response sampling strategy was employed. The survey was administered online via Google Forms and distributed through various digital platforms, including official government email lists, social media channels such as Facebook and WhatsApp, and online community networks. Participants were encouraged to share the survey link within their personal networks, facilitating a chain-referral dissemination strategy. This approach allowed the survey to reach a wide range of demographic groups across geographic regions, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds in Malaysia. Additionally, this method facilitated the recruitment of participants through recommendations from previous participants, helping to prevent enrolling individuals unwilling to participate because of the sensitive nature of drug use. This strategy was particularly appropriate given the online nature of the survey and the need to reach a wide and diverse population across Malaysia in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner. Recruitment and Response Rate Due to the digital nature of the recruitment strategy, the survey achieved broader outreach than anticipated. After one month of data collection, a total of 2,047 valid responses were obtained, exceeding the initial sample size estimate. All individuals who initiated the survey completed it in full, resulting in a 100% completion rate. Minimising Bias and Ensuring Data Quality Several strategies were used to mitigate non-response bias (e.g., describing the study as a “medical substance research”), and ensuring demographic representativeness by comparing survey respondent characteristics with national statistics on Malaysia’s digitally connected population (see Table 1 ). To assess the consistency of the findings, responses from the first 500 participants were compared with those from the remainder of the sample. No significant differences were found in key demographic characteristics or outcome measures (p > 0.05), supporting the reliability of the data. Table 1 Baseline characteristics, sociodemographic factors, lifestyle factors, and perceptions toward the acceptance of medical marijuana decriminalization Variable Acceptance status Total Low High p -value n (%) n (%) n (%) Citizenship b Malaysian 2045 (99.9) 788 (38.5) 1257 (61.5) 0.526 a Non-Malaysian 2 (0.1) 0 (0) 2 (100) Locality c Urban 584 (72.3) 169 (28.9) 415 (71.1) 0.264 Rural 224 (27.7) 56 (25) 168 (75) Age ≤ 24 years 112 (5.5) 31 (27.7) 81 (72.3) 0.053 25–54 1867 (91.2) 730 (39.1) 1137 (60.9) ≥ 55 years 68 (3.3) 27 (39.7) 41 (60.3) Gender Male 1391 (68) 377 (27.1) 1014 (72.9) < 0.001 Female 656 (32) 411 (62.7) 245 (37.3) Ethnicity Malay 1666 (81.4) 634 (38.1) 1032 (61.9) 0.029 Chinese 117 (5.7) 57 (48.7) 60 (51.3) Indian 113 (5.5) 38 (33.6) 75 (66.4) Bumiputera Sabah 91 (4.4) 42 (46.2) 49 (53.8) Bumiputera Sarawak 45 (2.2) 11 (24.4) 34 (75.6) Other 15 (0.7) 6 (40) 9 (60) Religion Islam 1776 (86.8) 673 (37.9) 1103 (62.1) 0.256 Buddha 73 (3.6) 36 (49.3) 37 (50.7) Hindu 84 (4.1) 31 (36.9) 53 (63.1) Christian 92 (4.5) 37 (40.2) 55 (59.8) Other 22 (1.1) 11 (50) 11 (50) Education level No formal/primary/secondary 437 (21.3) 122 (27.9) 315 (72.1) < 0.001 STPM/matriculation/diploma 622 (30.4) 213 (34.2) 409 (65.8) First degree 650 (31.8) 297 (45.7) 353 (54.3) Master’s/PhD 338 (16.5) 156 (46.2) 182 (53.8) Occupation Government 1016 (49.6) 553 (54.4) 463 (45.6) < 0.001 Private 524 (25.6) 124 (23.7) 400 (76.3) Self-employed 360 (17.6) 60 (16.7) 300 (83.3) Student/unemployed/retiree 145 (7.1) 49 (33.8) 96 (66.2) Others 2 (0.1) 2 (100) 0 (0) Income level < RM4000 611 (29.8) 173 (28.3) 438 (71.7) < 0.001 RM4000–RM9999 809 (39.5) 318 (39.3) 491 (60.7) ≥ RM10000 569 (27.8) 274 (48.2) 295 (51.8) Not mentioned 58 (2.8) 23 (39.7) 35 (60.3) Ever heard of medical marijuana Yes 1952 (95.4) 720 (36.9) 1232 (63.1) < 0.001 No 95 (4.6) 68 (71.6) 27 (28.4) Smoking Current 697 (34) 145 (20.8) 552 (79.2) < 0.001 Ever 390 (19.1) 92 (23.6) 298 (76.4) Never 960 (46.9) 551 (57.4) 409 (42.6) Alcohol intake Current 141 (6.9) 46 (32.6) 95 (67.4) < 0.001 Ever 401 (19.6) 88 (21.9) 313 (78.1) Never 1505 (73.5) 654 (43.5) 851 (56.5) Taken drugs Yes 789 (38.5) 133 (16.9) 656 (83.1) < 0.001 No 1258 (61.5) 655 (52.1) 603 (47.9) Exposed to medical marijuana content Yes 1693 (82.7) 567 (33.5) 1126 (66.5) < 0.001 No 353 (17.3) 221 (62.6) 132 (37.4) Perceived risk Low 1895 (92.6) 656 (34.6) 1239 (65.4) < 0.001 High 152 (7.4) 132 (86.8) 20 (13.2) Perceived risk approved Low 1331 (65) 708 (53.2) 623 (46.8) < 0.001 High 716 (35) 80 (11.2) 636 (88.8) P -value refers to Chi-square statistics; a Fisher’s Exact test; b did not proceed for further analysis owing to small representativeness, c Total sample is less due to incompleteness Data Collection and Study Instrument Data were collected using an online self-administered questionnaire developed via Google Forms, available in Malay and English. The survey link, accompanied by an information page and informed consent form, was disseminated through various digital platforms, including official government email lists, WhatsApp, Facebook, and online community networks. Respondents who provided informed consent were automatically directed to the survey, while those who declined were exited from the form. Participation was voluntary, anonymous, and no identifiable data were collected. The questionnaire was adapted from a previously validated instrument by Dapari et al. (2022) and consisted of six sections comprising 42 items. These sections covered, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, drug use, and social media use), risk assessment of medical marijuana, perceived risk, and acceptance of medical marijuana decriminalization. The construct of “acceptance” was operationalized as agreement with the decriminalization of medical marijuana, provided there was clinical evidence supporting its use. Perceived risk was measured using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree), adapted from the same instrument. Items related to perception and acceptance demonstrated acceptable internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.78. The instrument underwent pre-testing in October 2022 among a diverse group of staff from the Ministry of Health Malaysia and their families to assess clarity, readability, and comprehension. Based on the pre-test feedback, minor revisions were made to improve wording, simplify language, and enhance instructions. The final questionnaire used in this study is provided as Supplementary File 1. Behavioral variables such as smoking, drug use, and alcohol consumption were based on self-reported responses. Specifically, smoking referred to the use of cigarettes or tobacco products, drug use referred to illicit or non-medically prescribed substances, and alcohol use referred to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. “Current use” for each behavior was defined as use within the past 12 months. Data Analysis Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral factors, and perceptions toward medical marijuana. To identify potential factors associated with acceptance of medical marijuana, univariate logistic regression analyses were first conducted for all independent variables, including age, gender, ethnicity, income, education level, occupation, substance use history (smoking, alcohol, and drug use), awareness of medical marijuana, and perceived risk. Perceived risk was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale and was subsequently categorized into ‘low’ and ‘high’ risk perceptions based on the median split (cut-off point = 3). Variables with a p-value < 0.25 in univariate analyses were included in a multivariable logistic regression model using the enter method, to control for potential confounding factors. Model assumptions were thoroughly checked: Goodness-of-fit was evaluated using the Classification Table and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, Multicollinearity was assessed using variance inflation factors (VIF), with values < 5 indicating acceptable levels, and Interaction effects were also examined. Results from the multivariable model are presented as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 28.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp). Charts were created using Microsoft Excel, while tables and textual summaries were compiled using Microsoft Word. Results This study included 2,047 respondents. Most participants were Malaysian, n = 2045 (99.9%) and resided in urban areas, n = 584 (72.3%). Additionally, the respondents were predominantly males, n = 1391 (68.0%), Malays, n = 1666 (81.4%), and Muslims, n = 1776 (86.8%). Regarding educational qualification, n = 650 (31.8%) earned a first degree, while 622 respondents or 30.4% matriculated or received a diploma. Based on occupation, government employees formed the largest group, n = 1016 (49.6%). Approximately 39.5% of the respondents or 809 were middle-income earners (RM4000–RM9999; Table 1 ). [Table 1 is larger than one A4 or Letter page in length. Therefore, it is placed at the end of the document text file] Furthermore, 88.4% supported the decriminalization of medical marijuana based on clinical research evidence. Baseline analysis revealed that several factors were significantly associated with the acceptance of medical marijuana. Based on sex, males exhibited a significantly higher acceptance rate of medical marijuana [n = 1014 (72.9%)] than females [n = 245 (37.3%)], indicating a strong predictor of acceptance rate. Based on educational status, respondents with lower education levels, particularly those with primary or secondary education, exhibited higher acceptance rates [n = 315 (72.1%)] than those with higher education levels. Based on occupational status, self-employed individuals [n = 300 (83.3%)] and private sector employees [n = 400 (76.3%)] exhibited significantly higher acceptance rates than government employees [n = 463 (45.6%)]. Based on the level of income, lower-income earners (< RM4,000) exhibited a higher acceptance rate [n = 438 (71.7%)] than higher-income earners (≥ RM10,000; 51.8%; Table 2 ). Table 2 Logistic regression analysis of factors associated with the acceptance of medical marijuana decriminalization Variable Univariate Multivariable COR (95% CI) p -value AOR (95% CI) p -value Locality Rural 1 Urban 1.22 (0.86–1.74) 0.264 Age group ≤ 24 years 1 1 25–54 0.60 (0.39–0.91) 0.017 1.16 (0.68–1.97) 0.583 ≥ 55 years 0.58 (0.31–1.10) 0.096 0.92 (0.43–1.99) 0.838 Gender Female 1 1 Male 4.51 (3.70– 5.50) < 0.001 1.71 (1.29–2.26) < 0.001 Ethnicity Malay 1 1 Chinese 0.65 (0.44–0.94) 0.023 0.86 (0.53–1.42) 0.564 Indian 1.21 (0.81–1.81) 0.348 1.65 (0.99–2.76) 0.056 Bumiputera Sabah 0.72 (0.47–1.10) 0.124 0.81 (0.48–1.36) 0.426 Bumiputera Sarawak 1.90 (0.96–3.77) 0.067 1.21 (0.55–2.68) 0.637 Other 0.92 (0.33–2.60) 0.877 0.76 (0.17–3.34) 0.717 Religion Islam 1 Buddha 0.63 (0.39–1.00) 0.051 Hindu 1.04 (0.66–1.64) 0.855 Christian 0.91 (0.59–1.39) 0.655 Other 0.61 (0.26–1.42) 0.250 Education Level No formal/primary/secondary 1 1 STPM/matriculation/diploma 0.74 (0.57–0.97) 0.030 1.25 (0.91–1.74) 0.173 First degree 0.46 (0.36–0.60) < 0.001 1.56 (1.09–2.24) 0.016 Master’s/PhD 0.45 (0.34–0.61) < 0.001 2.04 (1.33–3.12) 0.001 Occupation Government 1 1 Private 3.85 (3.04–4.88) < 0.001 1.40 (1.02–1.92) 0.035 Self-employed 5.97 (4.41–8.09) < 0.001 1.84 (1.25–2.70) 0.002 Student/unemployed/retiree 2.34 (1.62–3.37) < 0.001 1.61 (0.97–2.65) 0.066 Others - - Income level < RM4000 1 1 RM4000–RM9999 0.61 (0.49–0.76) < 0.001 0.85 (0.64–1.13) 0.252 ≥ RM10000 0.43 (0.33–0.54) < 0.001 0.72 (0.52–1.02) 0.062 Not mentioned 0.60 (0.35–1.05) 0.072 0.72 (0.37–1.43) 0.349 Ever heard of medical marijuana No 1 1 Yes 4.31 (2.73–6.79) < 0.001 1.61 (0.95–2.73) 0.075 Smoking Never smoker 1 1 Ever smoker 4.36 (3.34–5.70) < 0.001 1.58 (1.10–2.25) 0.013 Current smoker 5.13 (4.10–6.41) < 0.001 1.18 (0.82–1.70) 0.385 Alcohol intake Never drinking 1 1 Ever drinking 2.73 (2.113.54) < 0.001 1.29 (0.92–1.80) 0.143 Current drinking 1.59 (1.10–2.29) 0.014 0.79 (0.48–1.31) 0.363 Drug intake No 1 1 Yes 5.36 (4.31–6.65) < 0.001 1.86 (1.37–2.53) < 0.001 Exposed to medical marijuana content No 1 1 Yes 3.32 (2.62–4.22) < 0.001 1.80 (1.35–2.41) < 0.001 Perceived risk High 1 1 Low 12.47 (7.72–20.14) < 0.001 5.82 (3.50–9.67) < 0.001 Perceived risk approved High 1 1 Low 0.11 (0.09–0.14) < 0.001 0.22 (0.16–0.29) < 0.001 COR = crude odds ratio, AOR = adjusted odds ratio. STPM = Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia Hosmer & Lemeshow ( p -value = 0.665), classification table (84.8%), Nagelkerke R square (19.9%), Multicollinearity and interaction terms were checked. Based on awareness and lifestyle factors, respondents who were aware of medical marijuana were more inclined to accept it [n = 1232 (63.1%)]. Based on behavioral lifestyle factors, current smokers [n = 552 (79.2%)] and those with a history of drug use [n = 656 (83.1%)] exhibited higher acceptance rates of medical marijuana than individuals who never smoked or used drugs. Based on perceived risk, respondents with low perceived risk were significantly more inclined to accept medical marijuana [n = 1239 (65.4%)] than those with high perceived risk [n = 20 (13.2%)] as in Table 2 . [Table 2 is inserted at the end of the text as it is larger than A4 size]. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed key predictors of acceptance of medical marijuana decriminalization. Based on gender, males exhibited a significantly high probability of accepting medical marijuana decriminalization (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–2.26). Based on educational level, respondents with a higher education level, a bachelor’s degree (AOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.09–2.23), and those with a Master's or PhD (AOR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.34–3.10) exhibited a significantly high probability of accepting medical marijuana decriminalization. Based on employment status, self-employed individuals (AOR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.22–2.77) and private sector employees (AOR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03–1.89) exhibited a significantly higher probability of accepting medical marijuana decriminalization than government employees. Based on behavioral lifestyle factors, smokers (AOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.10–2.27) and those with a history of drug use (AOR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.30–2.67) were significantly more inclined to accept medical marijuana decriminalization. Based on perceived risk, respondents with low perceived risk were significantly more inclined (AOR: 5.82, 95% CI: 3.48–9.73) than those with high perceived risk (AOR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.15–0.33) to accept medical marijuana decriminalization. Discussion This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors associated with medical marijuana acceptance among Malaysians. Over 80% of the respondents supported marijuana legalization, indicating a substantial openness to its therapeutic potential. The findings reveal significant associations between acceptance and variables such as gender, education level, occupational status, income level, lifestyle behaviors, and perceived risk. These insights offer valuable implications for policy development, public education, and healthcare integration. Sociodemographic Factors Acceptance of medical marijuana varied significantly across demographic groups. Male respondents demonstrated a notably higher acceptance rate than females, aligning with previous studies that found men are generally more open to drug-related issues [ 8 , 25 ]. Education level also played a critical role; those with higher educational attainment were more likely to accept medical marijuana, potentially due to increased exposure to scientific literature and health-related information [ 25 ]. Although descriptive statistics initially suggested higher acceptance among individuals with lower education, multivariable regression analysis showed that higher education was positively associated with acceptance when adjusting for confounders such as income, occupation, and awareness. This contradiction highlights the importance of multivariate analysis in identifying independent predictors of acceptance. Individuals with lower education levels may retain implicit beliefs regarding the adverse effects of marijuana, thus maintaining a persistent stigma against its therapeutic use [ 11 ]. Occupational status was another significant factor. Self-employed individuals and private sector employees exhibited higher acceptance rates than government employees. This disparity could be attributed to different levels of exposure to diverse opinions, information sources, and perceived risk associated with drug use in these occupational groups [ 6 ]. Government employees may encounter more stringent regulations and scrutiny regarding drug use, which could potentially contribute to their lower acceptance rates. Interestingly, income level was inversely related to acceptance. Lower-income earners demonstrated higher acceptance rates. This finding is significant and may reflect socioeconomic dynamics and limited access to healthcare resources. Lower-income earners might be more open to alternative therapies such as medical marijuana because of limited access to conventional medical treatment and more affordable option [ 2 ]. Behavioral and Lifestyle Factors Behavioral lifestyle factors, including smoking, previous drug use, and alcohol consumption, were significantly associated with higher acceptance rates of medical marijuana [ 15 , 26 ]. Current and former smokers and individuals with a history of drug use were more inclined to accept medical marijuana. These groups may perceive marijuana as less detrimental or as a viable substitute for other substances they have used [ 24 ]. Similarly, alcohol consumers exhibited higher acceptance, potentially because they have a more liberal attitude toward substance use [ 14 , 27 ]. Perceived Risk and Stigma The perceived risk of medical marijuana played a crucial role in determining its acceptance. Respondents with low perceived risk were significantly more inclined to accept medical marijuana decriminalization than those with high perceived risk. This highlights the significance of public education and accurate information dissemination regarding the risks and benefits of medical marijuana [ 30 ]. This reinforces the importance of public education in correcting misconceptions and delivering balanced, evidence-based information about the therapeutic use of marijuana. Additionally, stigma, often tied to cultural and educational background may contribute to hesitancy among certain groups, particularly those with lower education levels who may retain traditional views on drug use [ 11 ]. Cultural and Religious Context The sociocultural context in Malaysia, with its conservative views on drug use, poses a unique challenge to medical marijuana acceptance. Drug use is often perceived from a moral perspective in traditional cultural and religious beliefs, which complicates marijuana acceptance, even for medicinal purposes [ 31 ]. It is imperative to consider and respect these cultural sensitivities and provide education that aligns with local values while presenting strong scientific evidence to support the use of medical marijuana. Targeted education and awareness campaigns can effectively lead to a change in public perception and increase acceptance [ 30 – 31 ]. International Comparisons and Adaptation Comparative studies on international models for drug possession decriminalization and depenalization, including those implemented in Portugal and the Netherlands, offer valuable insights for Malaysia [ 34 ]. The Portuguese approach, which focuses on treating drug use as a health concern rather than a criminal one, has proven effective in reducing drug-related impairments and enhancing public health outcomes. Adopting similar strategies in Malaysia, with adjustments to fit the local sociocultural context, can yield positive results. Policy Implications This study highlights the need for policymakers to consider various factors that influence public acceptance of medical marijuana. This includes acknowledging the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana for various conditions, including chronic pain, epilepsy, and chemotherapy-induced nausea [ 35 ]. Additionally, it highlights the regulatory and policy challenges of legalizing medical marijuana. We acknowledge that the current study does not provide comprehensive data on the actual medical needs of the population or the specific beliefs regarding the clinical efficacy of medical marijuana. As such, while public acceptance is an important factor, we have deliberately moderated our policy recommendations to reflect this limitation. Rather than advocating for immediate policy action, we emphasize the need for further in-depth research that explores clinical outcomes, patient needs, and evidence-based efficacy. These elements are essential to inform balanced and responsible policymaking regarding the potential integration of medical marijuana into the healthcare system. Strengths One of the key strengths of this study lies in its ability to capture a large and diverse sample from across Malaysia within a relatively short data collection period. By leveraging both official governmental communication channels and widely used digital platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook, the study achieved broad outreach across various ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, the online nature of the survey enabled participation from individuals across different regions of Malaysia, including those who might be less accessible through traditional face-to-face data collection methods. The dual-language format (Malay and English) also enhanced inclusivity and accessibility. Limitations This study employed a non-probability, voluntary response sampling method, which may introduce selection bias and limit the generalizability of findings to the entire Malaysian adult population. As participation was dependent on internet access and personal initiative, certain groups—particularly those from rural or lower socioeconomic backgrounds—may have been underrepresented. Furthermore, while efforts were made to disseminate the survey link widely through both official and informal channels, the lack of a structured sampling frame may have affected the representativeness of the sample. A key limitation of this study is the reliance on self-reported data for smoking, drug use, and alcohol use. This may lead to recall bias and social desirability bias , potentially resulting in underreporting or misreporting of sensitive behaviors. One notable limitation of this study concerns the specific terminology used in the questionnaire. We consistently employed the term "medical marijuana" throughout the survey to emphasize its use within a clinical and therapeutic context, and to distinguish it from recreational cannabis. However, we acknowledge that the wording itself may still carry inherent connotations or elicit different emotional or cognitive responses from participants. For instance, the term "marijuana" might evoke more negative perceptions compared to alternatives such as "medical cannabis" , due to cultural, legal, or media influences. Although we aimed for clarity and relevance by using the commonly recognized term in the Malaysian context, future studies may consider comparing terminology (e.g., "medical marijuana" vs. "medical cannabis" ) to assess whether and how linguistic framing influences public acceptance or attitudes. Another limitation of this study relates to potential regional differences. Although the survey collected respondents’ location data, including from East Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur, the sample sizes within each regional subgroup were not sufficiently powered to allow for meaningful comparative analysis. As such, we were unable to explore potential regional differences in the acceptance of medical marijuana, which may be influenced by varying cultural norms, healthcare accessibility, or policy awareness across regions. We recognize this as a limitation of the current study and recommend that future research recruit more balanced regional samples to examine geographical variations in perception and acceptance more thoroughly. One important consideration in interpreting our findings is the potential conflation between medical and recreational marijuana in public perception. Although this study specifically focused on medical marijuana, some respondents may not have clearly distinguished between its clinical application and recreational use. This lack of distinction could have influenced the patterns of acceptance reported, especially in a context where general awareness about the legal and therapeutic differences remains limited. From a policy perspective, this underscores the need for clear public education campaigns and legal communication that delineate the purpose, regulation, and boundaries of medical marijuana use. Without such clarity, there is a risk that public debates and policy responses may be shaped by misconceptions or stigma associated with recreational drug use. Future research should also aim to explore the extent to which the public differentiates between these two uses and how this influences attitudes toward legalization and regulation. Conclusions Several factors including sex, educational attainment, occupational status, income level, behavioral lifestyle factors (such as smoking, previous drug use, and alcohol consumption), and perceived risk were found to be associated with the acceptance of medical marijuana among Malaysians. Understanding these dynamics may inform the development of more targeted public health policies and educational strategies aimed at improving awareness and knowledge regarding medical marijuana. However, given the limitations of the study, including self-reported data and a lack of in-depth clinical or experiential context, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Addressing cultural and regulatory challenges requires context-sensitive, evidence-based strategies to realize the potential benefits of medical marijuana while minimizing risks of misuse and unintended outcomes. Tailored public education and well-designed regulatory frameworks, attuned to Malaysia’s sociocultural diversity, may facilitate greater public understanding and acceptance. While this study contributes preliminary insights, ongoing research and inclusive dialogue among policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public are essential for navigating the complex considerations surrounding the integration of medical marijuana into the healthcare system. Abbreviations Adjusted odds ratio: AOR Confidence interval: CI Crude odds ratio: COR Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (Malaysia High School Certificate): STPM Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Medical Review and Ethics Committee, National Institutes of Health, Malaysia (NMRR ID-22-02270-2AM (IIR)). Informed consent was obtained electronically from all participants, and they were informed that they could withdraw from the study at any time without consequence. Consent for publication Written informed consent was obtained from Director General, Ministry of Health Malaysia for the publication of this article. Availability of data and materials The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [ Abu Bakar Rahman ], upon reasonable request. Conflict of interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Funding This study did not use a specific grant; however, the operational expenses were funded by the National Institute of Health, Malaysia using existing operational funds. Authors' contributions ABR conceptualized the study, developed the methodology, collected data, and prepared the original draft of the manuscript. NAN performed data analysis, contributed to writing through review and editing, and handled visualization. ZS conducted data analysis, participated in writing through review and editing, and managed visualization. MK supervised the project, handled project administration, and secured funding. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript. Acknowledgments The authors would like to express their gratitude to Malaysia’s Director General of Health for granting permission to publish this paper. We also want to thank everyone who was a part of this study for their time and effort throughout the process. Authors' information (optional). Abu Bakar Rahman, Email: [email protected] Tel: +603-33628605 References The Lancet. Drug decriminalisation: grounding policy in evidence. Lancet [Internet]. 2023;402:1941. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02617-X Pacula RL, Powell D, Heaton P, Sevigny EL. Assessing the Effects of Medical Marijuana Laws on Marijuana Use: The Devil is in the Details. J Policy Anal Manage [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2024 Jul 4];34:7. 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Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27976988/ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and, Division M H and, Practice M, on PH B, Agenda PH. C on the HE of MAER and R. Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Heal Eff Cannabis Cannabinoids Curr State Evid Recomm Res [Internet]. National Academies Press (US); 2017 [cited 2024 Jul 4]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/ Tashkin DP. Effects of marijuana smoking on the lung. Ann Am Thorac Soc [Internet]. 2013;10:239–47. Available from: www.atsjournals.org. Subbaraman MS, Kerr WC. Simultaneous Versus Concurrent Use of Alcohol and Cannabis in the National Alcohol Survey. Alcohol Clin Exp Res [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2024 Sep 7];39:872–9. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/ 10.1111/acer.12698 Goodman S, Hammond D. Perceptions of the health risks of cannabis: estimates from national surveys in Canada and the United States, 2018–2019. Health Educ Res [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2024 Sep 7];37:61–78. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/cyac006 Kamarulzaman A, Saifuddeen SM. Islam and harm reduction. Int J Drug Policy. 2010;21:115–8. Govarthnapany N, Singh D, Narayanan S, Vicknasingam B. Motives and Perceptions of Cannabis Use among a Sample of Employed Graduates in Malaysia: A Qualitative Study. Emerg Trends Drugs, Addict Heal. 2021;1:100013. Benfer I, Zahnow R, Barratt MJ, Maier L, Winstock A, Ferris J. The impact of drug policy liberalisation on willingness to seek help for problem drug use: A comparison of 20 countries. Int J Drug Policy. 2018;56:162–75. Hughes C, Stevens A, Hulme S, Cassidy R. Models for the decriminalisation, depenalisation and diversion of illicit drug possession: An international realist review. Int Soc Study Drug Policy Conf; 2019. Whiting PF, Wolff RF, Deshpande S, Di Nisio M, Duffy S, Hernandez AV et al. Cannabinoids for Medical Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2024 Jul 11];313:2456–73. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2338251 Vozoris NT, Zhu J, Ryan CM, Chow CW, To T. (2022). Cannabis use and risks of respiratory and all-cause morbidity and mortality: a population-based, data-linkage, cohort study. BMJ Open Respiratory Research , 9 (1), e001216.37. Afshar, S., Khalili, S., Amin, G., & Abbasinazari, M. (2022). A phase I randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on efficacy and safety profile of a sublingually administered cannabidiol/delta 9-tetrahydrocannabidiol (10: 1) regimen in diabetes type 2 patients. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research: IJPR , 21 (1). Saleska, J. L., Bryant, C., Kolobaric, A., D’Adamo, C. R., Colwell, C. S., Loewy,D., … Pauli, E. K. (2024). The safety and comparative effectiveness of non-psychoactive cannabinoid formulations for the improvement of sleep: A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Nutrition Association, 43(1), 1–11.. McDaniels-Davidson C, Parada Jr H, Kasiri N, Patel SP, Strong D, Doran N. The association of perceived cannabis risks and benefits with cannabis use since cancer diagnosis. JNCI Monogr. 2024;2024(66):244–51. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5756813","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":447354549,"identity":"b7765adf-dbe6-40b8-bb88-d024a3da060f","order_by":0,"name":"Abu Bakar 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08:53:16","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5756813/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5756813/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":82200487,"identity":"c2205feb-650e-42b9-b095-f5b95f67abba","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-05-07 15:53:46","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1604694,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5756813/v1/b31ee323-debb-4cad-b1ee-19dd3d42879c.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Understanding the Acceptance of Medical Marijuana: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia","fulltext":[{"header":"Background","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe acceptance of medical marijuana varies significantly across the globe, influenced by diverse cultural and regulatory frameworks [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Medical marijuana has been a controversial topic since its inception [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. Many countries have reclassified marijuana from a controlled substance to a less regulated or unregulated one [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublic acceptance of medical marijuana is higher in nations with liberal drug policies, including South Africa [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e], Canada, and certain states in the United States of America [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. Although some Asian countries have moved to decriminalize and legalize medical marijuana, the Malaysian government has maintained the status quo to allow for a more comprehensive evaluation of the risks and benefits to the community [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. Conservative countries with stringent drug laws, including Malaysia, often have lower rates of acceptance, with behavioral lifestyle factors associated with public attitudes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMedical marijuana is effective for several conditions, including chronic non-cancer pain, epilepsy, sleeping improvement and chemotherapy-induced nausea [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e]. However, the use of marijuana as a therapeutic drug has yielded mixed results, and the potential risks of negative effects, including addiction and dependence, remain a cause for concern [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. Numerous studies have evaluated the long-term effects of marijuana use on health and identified respiratory complications, including chronic cough, increased phlegm production, pneumonia, chest pain, decreased lung function, and lung infections among marijuana users [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, excessive marijuana use and the consequent inhalation of smoke may be associated with lung cancer. However, the strength of the evidence is inadequate, necessitating further research to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the association between marijuana use and lung cancer. Marijuana is associated with other cancers, including melanoma, urogenital, breast, colorectal, and head and neck cancer; however, the evidence is insufficient [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e]. Conversely, research into medical cannabis applications, such as a sublingual spray combining cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), highlights potential health benefits. In a clinical study on patients with type II diabetes, this formulation improved blood sugar control, lipid profiles, and insulin sensitivity, with minimal side effects. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of CBD, combined with the metabolic effects of THC, underscore its therapeutic promise [37, 38]. Furthermore, medical marijuana is widely used to manage cancer-related symptoms, including chronic pain, nausea, vomiting, and anxiety. A 2024 study discovered that more than 33% of patients with cancer surveyed used cannabis post-diagnosis, citing benefits such as improved quality of life, better symptom management, and reduced dependence on other medications [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndividual behaviors and lifestyle choices frequently correlate with the acceptance of medical marijuana use. Individuals with a history of substance use are more inclined to accept medical marijuana. This correlation can be attributed to their familiarity with the substance and possibly a more permissive attitude toward its use [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e]. Individuals who avoid substance use, particularly those from conservative backgrounds, may have lower acceptance rates. Cultural norms and stringent drug policies stigmatize marijuana use, reinforcing this trend [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMalaysia has notably strict drug laws, with severe penalties for possession and use. For example, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1952 imposes harsh penalties, including capital punishment, for specific offenses involving marijuana [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. Other countries, including Singapore and Indonesia, have similar strict drug laws and impose severe penalties for drug offenses [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. Conservative legal frameworks and societal norms can significantly hinder the acceptance of medical marijuana despite its acknowledged medical benefits in other contexts [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecently, there has been an attempt to legalize marijuana use because of its therapeutic potential for disease prevention and health. Therefore, understanding the complexities of public acceptance is critical for policy formulation. Individual lifestyle behaviors, including smoking, drug or marijuana use, and alcohol consumption, significantly correlate with individual perceptions toward medical marijuana [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR16\" citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e]. Individuals with prior drug or marijuana experience tend to support its legalization and medical use [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. They have a better understanding of its potential benefits and risks than those without prior experience, who may rely solely on societal narratives or legal perspectives [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStudy Design\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study employed a cross-sectional design to assess the prevalence and key factors associated with public acceptance of medical marijuana in Malaysia. An online survey was administered to Malaysian adults to explore the associations between sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral lifestyle factors, and perceived risk with attitudes toward medical marijuana. This comprehensive evaluation aimed to generate evidence to support the integration of medical marijuana into the healthcare system and contribute to improved public health outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSampling and Study Population\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study targeted Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above, regardless of marijuana user status. A \u0026ldquo;user\u0026rdquo; was defined as an individual who had used marijuana within the last 12 months [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. The inclusion criteria were: (i) aged 18 years or older, (ii) access to the internet, and (iii) proficiency in either Malay or English. Malay and English were selected as they are the two most widely used languages in Malaysia, especially in education and digital communication. Using these languages ensured broad accessibility and minimized potential issues with translation or misinterpretation. Individuals who were unwilling to provide informed consent or who lacked internet access were excluded.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSample Size Determination\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe required sample size was calculated using the standard formula for prevalence studies [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]. An initial estimate based on the national prevalence of current drug use in Malaysia (0.5%) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e] yielded a minimum of 73 respondents, which was deemed insufficient for robust statistical analysis. Therefore, a more conservative approach was adopted using the maximum-variance method (50% prevalence), which is recommended when dealing with low-prevalence phenomena. This approach yielded a base sample size of 383 participants, based on a 5% margin of error and a 95% confidence level. An additional 30% was added to account for potential non-response, resulting in a final target sample size of 548 participants. However, a total of 2,047 respondents were successfully recruited after one month of data collection, exceeding the minimum requirement.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSampling Procedure\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA non-probability, voluntary response sampling strategy was employed. The survey was administered online via Google Forms and distributed through various digital platforms, including official government email lists, social media channels such as Facebook and WhatsApp, and online community networks. Participants were encouraged to share the survey link within their personal networks, facilitating a chain-referral dissemination strategy. This approach allowed the survey to reach a wide range of demographic groups across geographic regions, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds in Malaysia. Additionally, this method facilitated the recruitment of participants through recommendations from previous participants, helping to prevent enrolling individuals unwilling to participate because of the sensitive nature of drug use.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis strategy was particularly appropriate given the online nature of the survey and the need to reach a wide and diverse population across Malaysia in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRecruitment and Response Rate\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDue to the digital nature of the recruitment strategy, the survey achieved broader outreach than anticipated. After one month of data collection, a total of 2,047 valid responses were obtained, exceeding the initial sample size estimate. All individuals who initiated the survey completed it in full, resulting in a 100% completion rate.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eMinimising Bias and Ensuring Data Quality\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeveral strategies were used to mitigate non-response bias (e.g., describing the study as a \u0026ldquo;medical substance research\u0026rdquo;), and ensuring demographic representativeness by comparing survey respondent characteristics with national statistics on Malaysia\u0026rsquo;s digitally connected population (see Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). To assess the consistency of the findings, responses from the first 500 participants were compared with those from the remainder of the sample. No significant differences were found in key demographic characteristics or outcome measures (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), supporting the reliability of the data.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBaseline characteristics, sociodemographic factors, lifestyle factors, and perceptions toward the acceptance of medical marijuana decriminalization\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" morerows=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcceptance status\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLow\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003en (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003en (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003en (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCitizenship\u003c/b\u003e \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMalaysian\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2045 (99.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e788 (38.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1257 (61.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.526\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNon-Malaysian\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (0.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0 (0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (100)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLocality\u003c/b\u003e \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrban\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e584 (72.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e169 (28.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e415 (71.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.264\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRural\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e224 (27.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56 (25)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e168 (75)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAge\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;24 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e112 (5.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31 (27.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e81 (72.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.053\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1867 (91.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e730 (39.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1137 (60.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;55 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68 (3.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 (39.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41 (60.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGender\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1391 (68)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e377 (27.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1014 (72.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e656 (32)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e411 (62.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e245 (37.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEthnicity\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMalay\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1666 (81.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e634 (38.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1032 (61.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.029\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChinese\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e117 (5.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57 (48.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60 (51.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndian\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e113 (5.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38 (33.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75 (66.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBumiputera Sabah\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e91 (4.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42 (46.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49 (53.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBumiputera Sarawak\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45 (2.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (24.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34 (75.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOther\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15 (0.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (40)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (60)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eReligion\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIslam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1776 (86.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e673 (37.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1103 (62.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.256\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBuddha\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e73 (3.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36 (49.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37 (50.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHindu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e84 (4.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31 (36.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53 (63.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChristian\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e92 (4.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37 (40.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55 (59.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOther\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 (1.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (50)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (50)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEducation level\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo formal/primary/secondary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e437 (21.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e122 (27.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e315 (72.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSTPM/matriculation/diploma\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e622 (30.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e213 (34.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e409 (65.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFirst degree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e650 (31.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e297 (45.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e353 (54.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMaster\u0026rsquo;s/PhD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e338 (16.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e156 (46.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e182 (53.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOccupation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGovernment\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1016 (49.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e553 (54.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e463 (45.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e524 (25.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e124 (23.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e400 (76.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSelf-employed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e360 (17.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60 (16.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300 (83.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudent/unemployed/retiree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e145 (7.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49 (33.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e96 (66.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (0.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (100)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0 (0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIncome level\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt; RM4000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e611 (29.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e173 (28.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e438 (71.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRM4000\u0026ndash;RM9999\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e809 (39.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e318 (39.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e491 (60.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ge; RM10000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e569 (27.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e274 (48.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e295 (51.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot mentioned\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58 (2.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 (39.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35 (60.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEver heard of medical marijuana\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1952 (95.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e720 (36.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1232 (63.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e95 (4.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68 (71.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 (28.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSmoking\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCurrent\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e697 (34)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e145 (20.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e552 (79.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEver\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e390 (19.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e92 (23.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e298 (76.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNever\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e960 (46.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e551 (57.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e409 (42.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcohol intake\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCurrent\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e141 (6.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46 (32.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e95 (67.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEver\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e401 (19.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e88 (21.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e313 (78.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNever\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1505 (73.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e654 (43.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e851 (56.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTaken drugs\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e789 (38.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e133 (16.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e656 (83.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1258 (61.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e655 (52.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e603 (47.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eExposed to medical marijuana content\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1693 (82.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e567 (33.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1126 (66.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e353 (17.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e221 (62.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e132 (37.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerceived risk\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLow\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1895 (92.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e656 (34.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1239 (65.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e152 (7.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e132 (86.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 (13.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerceived risk approved\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLow\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1331 (65)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e708 (53.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e623 (46.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e716 (35)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80 (11.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e636 (88.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"6\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e-value refers to Chi-square statistics; \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e Fisher\u0026rsquo;s Exact test; \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e did not proceed for further analysis owing to small representativeness, \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e Total sample is less due to incompleteness\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eData Collection and Study Instrument\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData were collected using an online self-administered questionnaire developed via Google Forms, available in Malay and English. The survey link, accompanied by an information page and informed consent form, was disseminated through various digital platforms, including official government email lists, WhatsApp, Facebook, and online community networks. Respondents who provided informed consent were automatically directed to the survey, while those who declined were exited from the form. Participation was voluntary, anonymous, and no identifiable data were collected.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe questionnaire was adapted from a previously validated instrument by Dapari et al. (2022) and consisted of six sections comprising 42 items. These sections covered, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, drug use, and social media use), risk assessment of medical marijuana, perceived risk, and acceptance of medical marijuana decriminalization. The construct of \u0026ldquo;acceptance\u0026rdquo; was operationalized as agreement with the decriminalization of medical marijuana, provided there was clinical evidence supporting its use. Perceived risk was measured using a 5-point Likert scale (1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;strongly disagree, 5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;strongly agree), adapted from the same instrument. Items related to perception and acceptance demonstrated acceptable internal consistency with a Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha of 0.78.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe instrument underwent pre-testing in October 2022 among a diverse group of staff from the Ministry of Health Malaysia and their families to assess clarity, readability, and comprehension. Based on the pre-test feedback, minor revisions were made to improve wording, simplify language, and enhance instructions. The final questionnaire used in this study is provided as Supplementary File 1.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBehavioral variables such as smoking, drug use, and alcohol consumption were based on self-reported responses. Specifically, smoking referred to the use of cigarettes or tobacco products, drug use referred to illicit or non-medically prescribed substances, and alcohol use referred to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. \u0026ldquo;Current use\u0026rdquo; for each behavior was defined as use within the past 12 months.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eData Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescriptive statistics were used to summarize participants\u0026rsquo; sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral factors, and perceptions toward medical marijuana. To identify potential factors associated with acceptance of medical marijuana, univariate logistic regression analyses were first conducted for all independent variables, including age, gender, ethnicity, income, education level, occupation, substance use history (smoking, alcohol, and drug use), awareness of medical marijuana, and perceived risk.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePerceived risk was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale and was subsequently categorized into \u0026lsquo;low\u0026rsquo; and \u0026lsquo;high\u0026rsquo; risk perceptions based on the median split (cut-off point\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3). Variables with a p-value\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.25 in univariate analyses were included in a multivariable logistic regression model using the enter method, to control for potential confounding factors. Model assumptions were thoroughly checked: Goodness-of-fit was evaluated using the Classification Table and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, Multicollinearity was assessed using variance inflation factors (VIF), with values\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5 indicating acceptable levels, and Interaction effects were also examined. Results from the multivariable model are presented as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A p-value\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 was considered statistically significant.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 28.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp). Charts were created using Microsoft Excel, while tables and textual summaries were compiled using Microsoft Word.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study included 2,047 respondents. Most participants were Malaysian, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2045 (99.9%) and resided in urban areas, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;584 (72.3%). Additionally, the respondents were predominantly males, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1391 (68.0%), Malays, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1666 (81.4%), and Muslims, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1776 (86.8%). Regarding educational qualification, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;650 (31.8%) earned a first degree, while 622 respondents or 30.4% matriculated or received a diploma. Based on occupation, government employees formed the largest group, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1016 (49.6%). Approximately 39.5% of the respondents or 809 were middle-income earners (RM4000\u0026ndash;RM9999; Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e[Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e is larger than one A4 or Letter page in length. Therefore, it is placed at the end of the document text file]\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurthermore, 88.4% supported the decriminalization of medical marijuana based on clinical research evidence. Baseline analysis revealed that several factors were significantly associated with the acceptance of medical marijuana. Based on sex, males exhibited a significantly higher acceptance rate of medical marijuana [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1014 (72.9%)] than females [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;245 (37.3%)], indicating a strong predictor of acceptance rate. Based on educational status, respondents with lower education levels, particularly those with primary or secondary education, exhibited higher acceptance rates [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;315 (72.1%)] than those with higher education levels. Based on occupational status, self-employed individuals [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;300 (83.3%)] and private sector employees [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;400 (76.3%)] exhibited significantly higher acceptance rates than government employees [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;463 (45.6%)]. Based on the level of income, lower-income earners (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;RM4,000) exhibited a higher acceptance rate [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;438 (71.7%)] than higher-income earners (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;RM10,000; 51.8%; Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLogistic regression analysis of factors associated with the acceptance of medical marijuana decriminalization\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" morerows=\"1\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnivariate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMultivariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCOR (95% CI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAOR (95% CI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocality\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRural\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrban\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.22 (0.86\u0026ndash;1.74)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.264\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAge group\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;24 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.60 (0.39\u0026ndash;0.91)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.16 (0.68\u0026ndash;1.97)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.583\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;55 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.58 (0.31\u0026ndash;1.10)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.096\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.92 (0.43\u0026ndash;1.99)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.838\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGender\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.51 (3.70\u0026ndash; 5.50)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.71 (1.29\u0026ndash;2.26)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEthnicity\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMalay\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChinese\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.65 (0.44\u0026ndash;0.94)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.023\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86 (0.53\u0026ndash;1.42)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.564\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndian\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.21 (0.81\u0026ndash;1.81)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.348\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.65 (0.99\u0026ndash;2.76)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.056\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBumiputera Sabah\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72 (0.47\u0026ndash;1.10)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.124\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.81 (0.48\u0026ndash;1.36)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.426\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBumiputera Sarawak\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.90 (0.96\u0026ndash;3.77)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.067\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.21 (0.55\u0026ndash;2.68)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.637\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOther\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.92 (0.33\u0026ndash;2.60)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.877\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.76 (0.17\u0026ndash;3.34)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.717\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eReligion\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIslam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBuddha\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.63 (0.39\u0026ndash;1.00)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.051\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHindu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.04 (0.66\u0026ndash;1.64)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.855\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChristian\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.91 (0.59\u0026ndash;1.39)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.655\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOther\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.61 (0.26\u0026ndash;1.42)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.250\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEducation Level\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo formal/primary/secondary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSTPM/matriculation/diploma\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.74 (0.57\u0026ndash;0.97)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.030\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.25 (0.91\u0026ndash;1.74)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.173\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFirst degree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.46 (0.36\u0026ndash;0.60)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.56 (1.09\u0026ndash;2.24)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.016\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMaster\u0026rsquo;s/PhD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.45 (0.34\u0026ndash;0.61)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.04 (1.33\u0026ndash;3.12)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOccupation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGovernment\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.85 (3.04\u0026ndash;4.88)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.40 (1.02\u0026ndash;1.92)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.035\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSelf-employed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.97 (4.41\u0026ndash;8.09)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.84 (1.25\u0026ndash;2.70)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudent/unemployed/retiree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.34 (1.62\u0026ndash;3.37)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.61 (0.97\u0026ndash;2.65)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.066\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIncome level\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt; RM4000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRM4000\u0026ndash;RM9999\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.61 (0.49\u0026ndash;0.76)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.85 (0.64\u0026ndash;1.13)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.252\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ge; RM10000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.43 (0.33\u0026ndash;0.54)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72 (0.52\u0026ndash;1.02)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.062\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot mentioned\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.60 (0.35\u0026ndash;1.05)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.072\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72 (0.37\u0026ndash;1.43)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.349\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEver heard of medical marijuana\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.31 (2.73\u0026ndash;6.79)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.61 (0.95\u0026ndash;2.73)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.075\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSmoking\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNever smoker\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEver smoker\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.36 (3.34\u0026ndash;5.70)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.58 (1.10\u0026ndash;2.25)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.013\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCurrent smoker\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.13 (4.10\u0026ndash;6.41)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.18 (0.82\u0026ndash;1.70)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.385\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlcohol intake\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNever drinking\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEver drinking\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.73 (2.113.54)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.29 (0.92\u0026ndash;1.80)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.143\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCurrent drinking\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.59 (1.10\u0026ndash;2.29)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.014\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.79 (0.48\u0026ndash;1.31)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.363\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDrug intake\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.36 (4.31\u0026ndash;6.65)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.86 (1.37\u0026ndash;2.53)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eExposed to medical marijuana content\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.32 (2.62\u0026ndash;4.22)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.80 (1.35\u0026ndash;2.41)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerceived risk\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLow\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.47 (7.72\u0026ndash;20.14)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.82 (3.50\u0026ndash;9.67)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerceived risk approved\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLow\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.11 (0.09\u0026ndash;0.14)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.22 (0.16\u0026ndash;0.29)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"6\"\u003eCOR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;crude odds ratio, AOR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;adjusted odds ratio.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"6\"\u003eSTPM\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"6\"\u003eHosmer \u0026amp; Lemeshow (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.665), classification table (84.8%), Nagelkerke R square (19.9%), Multicollinearity and interaction terms were checked.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBased on awareness and lifestyle factors, respondents who were aware of medical marijuana were more inclined to accept it [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1232 (63.1%)]. Based on behavioral lifestyle factors, current smokers [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;552 (79.2%)] and those with a history of drug use [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;656 (83.1%)] exhibited higher acceptance rates of medical marijuana than individuals who never smoked or used drugs. Based on perceived risk, respondents with low perceived risk were significantly more inclined to accept medical marijuana [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1239 (65.4%)] than those with high perceived risk [n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;20 (13.2%)] as in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e[Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e is inserted at the end of the text as it is larger than A4 size].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMultivariable logistic regression analysis revealed key predictors of acceptance of medical marijuana decriminalization. Based on gender, males exhibited a significantly high probability of accepting medical marijuana decriminalization (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29\u0026ndash;2.26). Based on educational level, respondents with a higher education level, a bachelor\u0026rsquo;s degree (AOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.09\u0026ndash;2.23), and those with a Master's or PhD (AOR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.34\u0026ndash;3.10) exhibited a significantly high probability of accepting medical marijuana decriminalization. Based on employment status, self-employed individuals (AOR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.22\u0026ndash;2.77) and private sector employees (AOR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03\u0026ndash;1.89) exhibited a significantly higher probability of accepting medical marijuana decriminalization than government employees.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBased on behavioral lifestyle factors, smokers (AOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.10\u0026ndash;2.27) and those with a history of drug use (AOR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.30\u0026ndash;2.67) were significantly more inclined to accept medical marijuana decriminalization. Based on perceived risk, respondents with low perceived risk were significantly more inclined (AOR: 5.82, 95% CI: 3.48\u0026ndash;9.73) than those with high perceived risk (AOR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.15\u0026ndash;0.33) to accept medical marijuana decriminalization.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors associated with medical marijuana acceptance among Malaysians. Over 80% of the respondents supported marijuana legalization, indicating a substantial openness to its therapeutic potential. The findings reveal significant associations between acceptance and variables such as gender, education level, occupational status, income level, lifestyle behaviors, and perceived risk. These insights offer valuable implications for policy development, public education, and healthcare integration.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSociodemographic Factors\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcceptance of medical marijuana varied significantly across demographic groups. Male respondents demonstrated a notably higher acceptance rate than females, aligning with previous studies that found men are generally more open to drug-related issues [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. Education level also played a critical role; those with higher educational attainment were more likely to accept medical marijuana, potentially due to increased exposure to scientific literature and health-related information [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. Although descriptive statistics initially suggested higher acceptance among individuals with lower education, multivariable regression analysis showed that higher education was positively associated with acceptance when adjusting for confounders such as income, occupation, and awareness. This contradiction highlights the importance of multivariate analysis in identifying independent predictors of acceptance. Individuals with lower education levels may retain implicit beliefs regarding the adverse effects of marijuana, thus maintaining a persistent stigma against its therapeutic use [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOccupational status was another significant factor. Self-employed individuals and private sector employees exhibited higher acceptance rates than government employees. This disparity could be attributed to different levels of exposure to diverse opinions, information sources, and perceived risk associated with drug use in these occupational groups [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. Government employees may encounter more stringent regulations and scrutiny regarding drug use, which could potentially contribute to their lower acceptance rates.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInterestingly, income level was inversely related to acceptance. Lower-income earners demonstrated higher acceptance rates. This finding is significant and may reflect socioeconomic dynamics and limited access to healthcare resources. Lower-income earners might be more open to alternative therapies such as medical marijuana because of limited access to conventional medical treatment and more affordable option [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBehavioral and Lifestyle Factors\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBehavioral lifestyle factors, including smoking, previous drug use, and alcohol consumption, were significantly associated with higher acceptance rates of medical marijuana [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e]. Current and former smokers and individuals with a history of drug use were more inclined to accept medical marijuana. These groups may perceive marijuana as less detrimental or as a viable substitute for other substances they have used [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e]. Similarly, alcohol consumers exhibited higher acceptance, potentially because they have a more liberal attitude toward substance use [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003ePerceived Risk and Stigma\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe perceived risk of medical marijuana played a crucial role in determining its acceptance. Respondents with low perceived risk were significantly more inclined to accept medical marijuana decriminalization than those with high perceived risk. This highlights the significance of public education and accurate information dissemination regarding the risks and benefits of medical marijuana [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e]. This reinforces the importance of public education in correcting misconceptions and delivering balanced, evidence-based information about the therapeutic use of marijuana.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdditionally, stigma, often tied to cultural and educational background may contribute to hesitancy among certain groups, particularly those with lower education levels who may retain traditional views on drug use [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCultural and Religious Context\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe sociocultural context in Malaysia, with its conservative views on drug use, poses a unique challenge to medical marijuana acceptance. Drug use is often perceived from a moral perspective in traditional cultural and religious beliefs, which complicates marijuana acceptance, even for medicinal purposes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e]. It is imperative to consider and respect these cultural sensitivities and provide education that aligns with local values while presenting strong scientific evidence to support the use of medical marijuana. Targeted education and awareness campaigns can effectively lead to a change in public perception and increase acceptance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eInternational Comparisons and Adaptation\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eComparative studies on international models for drug possession decriminalization and depenalization, including those implemented in Portugal and the Netherlands, offer valuable insights for Malaysia [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e]. The Portuguese approach, which focuses on treating drug use as a health concern rather than a criminal one, has proven effective in reducing drug-related impairments and enhancing public health outcomes. Adopting similar strategies in Malaysia, with adjustments to fit the local sociocultural context, can yield positive results.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003ePolicy Implications\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study highlights the need for policymakers to consider various factors that influence public acceptance of medical marijuana. This includes acknowledging the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana for various conditions, including chronic pain, epilepsy, and chemotherapy-induced nausea [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, it highlights the regulatory and policy challenges of legalizing medical marijuana.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe acknowledge that the current study does not provide comprehensive data on the actual medical needs of the population or the specific beliefs regarding the clinical efficacy of medical marijuana. As such, while public acceptance is an important factor, we have deliberately moderated our policy recommendations to reflect this limitation. Rather than advocating for immediate policy action, we emphasize the need for further in-depth research that explores clinical outcomes, patient needs, and evidence-based efficacy. These elements are essential to inform balanced and responsible policymaking regarding the potential integration of medical marijuana into the healthcare system.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec19\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStrengths\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOne of the key strengths of this study lies in its ability to capture a large and diverse sample from across Malaysia within a relatively short data collection period. By leveraging both official governmental communication channels and widely used digital platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook, the study achieved broad outreach across various ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, the online nature of the survey enabled participation from individuals across different regions of Malaysia, including those who might be less accessible through traditional face-to-face data collection methods. The dual-language format (Malay and English) also enhanced inclusivity and accessibility.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec20\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eLimitations\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study employed a non-probability, voluntary response sampling method, which may introduce selection bias and limit the generalizability of findings to the entire Malaysian adult population. As participation was dependent on internet access and personal initiative, certain groups\u0026mdash;particularly those from rural or lower socioeconomic backgrounds\u0026mdash;may have been underrepresented. Furthermore, while efforts were made to disseminate the survey link widely through both official and informal channels, the lack of a structured sampling frame may have affected the representativeness of the sample. A key limitation of this study is the reliance on self-reported data for smoking, drug use, and alcohol use. This may lead to recall bias and social desirability \u003cb\u003ebias\u003c/b\u003e, potentially resulting in underreporting or misreporting of sensitive behaviors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOne notable limitation of this study concerns the specific terminology used in the questionnaire. We consistently employed the term \u003cem\u003e\"medical marijuana\"\u003c/em\u003e throughout the survey to emphasize its use within a clinical and therapeutic context, and to distinguish it from recreational cannabis. However, we acknowledge that the wording itself may still carry inherent connotations or elicit different emotional or cognitive responses from participants. For instance, the term \u003cem\u003e\"marijuana\"\u003c/em\u003e might evoke more negative perceptions compared to alternatives such as \u003cem\u003e\"medical cannabis\"\u003c/em\u003e, due to cultural, legal, or media influences. Although we aimed for clarity and relevance by using the commonly recognized term in the Malaysian context, future studies may consider comparing terminology (e.g., \u003cem\u003e\"medical marijuana\"\u003c/em\u003e vs. \u003cem\u003e\"medical cannabis\"\u003c/em\u003e) to assess whether and how linguistic framing influences public acceptance or attitudes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnother limitation of this study relates to potential regional differences. Although the survey collected respondents\u0026rsquo; location data, including from East Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur, the sample sizes within each regional subgroup were not sufficiently powered to allow for meaningful comparative analysis. As such, we were unable to explore potential regional differences in the acceptance of medical marijuana, which may be influenced by varying cultural norms, healthcare accessibility, or policy awareness across regions. We recognize this as a limitation of the current study and recommend that future research recruit more balanced regional samples to examine geographical variations in perception and acceptance more thoroughly.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOne important consideration in interpreting our findings is the potential conflation between medical and recreational marijuana in public perception. Although this study specifically focused on medical marijuana, some respondents may not have clearly distinguished between its clinical application and recreational use. This lack of distinction could have influenced the patterns of acceptance reported, especially in a context where general awareness about the legal and therapeutic differences remains limited. From a policy perspective, this underscores the need for clear public education campaigns and legal communication that delineate the purpose, regulation, and boundaries of medical marijuana use. Without such clarity, there is a risk that public debates and policy responses may be shaped by misconceptions or stigma associated with recreational drug use. Future research should also aim to explore the extent to which the public differentiates between these two uses and how this influences attitudes toward legalization and regulation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eSeveral factors including sex, educational attainment, occupational status, income level, behavioral lifestyle factors (such as smoking, previous drug use, and alcohol consumption), and perceived risk were found to be associated with the acceptance of medical marijuana among Malaysians. Understanding these dynamics may inform the development of more targeted public health policies and educational strategies aimed at improving awareness and knowledge regarding medical marijuana.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, given the limitations of the study, including self-reported data and a lack of in-depth clinical or experiential context, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Addressing cultural and regulatory challenges requires context-sensitive, evidence-based strategies to realize the potential benefits of medical marijuana while minimizing risks of misuse and unintended outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTailored public education and well-designed regulatory frameworks, attuned to Malaysia\u0026rsquo;s sociocultural diversity, may facilitate greater public understanding and acceptance. While this study contributes preliminary insights, ongoing research and inclusive dialogue among policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public are essential for navigating the complex considerations surrounding the integration of medical marijuana into the healthcare system.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003cp\u003eAdjusted odds ratio: AOR\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConfidence interval: CI\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCrude odds ratio: COR\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (Malaysia High School Certificate): STPM\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Medical Review and Ethics Committee, National Institutes of Health, Malaysia (NMRR ID-22-02270-2AM (IIR)). Informed consent was obtained electronically from all participants, and they were informed that they could withdraw from the study at any time without consequence.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten informed consent was obtained from Director General, Ministry of Health Malaysia for the publication of this article.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [\u003cstrong\u003eAbu Bakar Rahman\u003c/strong\u003e], upon reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study did not use a specific grant; however, the operational expenses were funded by the National Institute of Health, Malaysia using existing operational funds.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026apos; contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eABR conceptualized the study, developed the methodology, collected data, and prepared the original draft of the manuscript.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNAN performed data analysis, contributed to writing through review and editing, and handled visualization.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZS conducted data analysis, participated in writing through review and editing, and managed visualization.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMK supervised the project, handled project administration, and secured funding.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors have read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgments\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors would like to express their gratitude to Malaysia\u0026rsquo;s Director General of Health for granting permission to publish this paper. 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JNCI Monogr. 2024;2024(66):244\u0026ndash;51.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Attitude to Health, Cannabis, Cross-Sectional Studies, Malaysia, Surveys and Questionnaires","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5756813/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5756813/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground:\u003c/strong\u003e The acceptance of medical marijuana is controversial globally, with varying degrees of legalization and public acceptance associated by cultural and legal contexts. Understanding the level of public acceptance of medical marijuana is crucial for its effective integration into healthcare, considering its potential therapeutic benefits and the stringent drug policies in Malaysia. This study examined the prevalence and associated factors with medical marijuana acceptance among Malaysians, with a focus on behavioral lifestyles.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods:\u003c/strong\u003e This study utilized a \u003cstrong\u003ecross-sectional design\u003c/strong\u003e involving an online survey targeting Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above. A\u003cstrong\u003e non-probability sampling method\u003c/strong\u003e was employed, in which the survey link was distributed via email groups, WhatsApp groups, Facebook, and participants were also encouraged to share the link with others in their network. The self-administered questionnaire, available in both Malay and English, consisted of 42 items covering demographic information, lifestyle behaviors, and perceptions toward medical marijuana. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed using \u003cstrong\u003eIBM SPSS Statistics version 28.0.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults:\u003c/strong\u003e A total of 2,047 respondents participated. Medical marijuana acceptance was higher among males, n=1014 (72.9%) than among females, n=245 (37.3%). Additionally, individuals with lower educational levels exhibited higher medical marijuana acceptance. Smoking, n=552 (79.2%), previous drug use, n=656 (83.1%), and alcohol consumption, n=95 (67.4%) were associated with higher acceptance rates. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that sex (male), higher levels of education, self-employment, and low perceived risk are significant predictors of acceptance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusions:\u003c/strong\u003e Behavioral lifestyle factors associate with the acceptance of medical marijuana in Malaysia. Individuals who smoke, use drugs, and consume alcohol are more inclined to accept medical marijuana. Understanding how these behavioral factors influence acceptance is essential for effectively integrating medical marijuana into Malaysia’s healthcare system.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Understanding the Acceptance of Medical Marijuana: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-04-25 19:33:47","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5756813/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"964a89e5-c38e-4f37-bc76-8361b08692b7","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 25th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-05-07T15:53:37+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-04-25 19:33:47","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5756813","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5756813","identity":"rs-5756813","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}