How to Get Public Consensus on the Medical Use of Cannabis in South Korea

• In Event: ICA Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Poster Session: Health Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Even though the medical benefit of cannabis is being highlighted and the number of nations legalizing its medical use is on increase, cannabis policy in South Korea remains unchanged. Adopting the Elaboration likelihood model (Petty and Cacioppo, 1986), Third-person effect (Davison, 1983) and Stigma theory (Goffman, 1963), we attempted to understand the reason for negative public attitude towards the medical cannabis legalization and its policy support. To test the hypotheses, a quasi-experimental survey was conducted with 354 participants in South Korea. Results indicated that the third-person perception indirectly and negatively influenced the attitude and the support, mediated by the stigma change. However, elaboration did not have a statistically significant effect on the third-person perception.

Author

• Namhoon Jeong, Sungkyunkwan University