Young Adults' Experiences with Cannabis Retailer Marketing and Related Practices: Differences Among Sociodemographic Groups and Associations with Cannabis Use-related Outcomes

Authors

Carla J. Berg, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, #7000C, Washington, DC, 20052, USA. carlaberg@gwu.edu.
Katelyn F. Romm, TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
Cassidy R. LoParco, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, #7000C, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
Matthew E. Rossheim, Department of Health Administration and Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Yuxian Cui, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, #7000C, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
Elizabeth Platt, Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University Beasley School of Law, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Y Tony Yang, George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Yan Wang, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, #7000C, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
Erin Kasson, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Hannah S. Szlyk, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Darcey M. McCready, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, #7000C, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-15-2024

Journal

Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities

DOI

10.1007/s40615-024-02092-z

Keywords

Cannabis; Health communication; Health policy; Marketing; Public health

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Limited cannabis retail surveillance has been conducted, particularly assessing retailer practices in relation to consumer sociodemographic factors or use-related outcomes. This study examined young adults': exposure to promotions, health claims, warnings, and age restrictions at cannabis retailers; demographic correlates of retail exposures; and retail exposures in relation to use-related outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This study used the cross-sectional quantitative analysis. METHODS: We analyzed 2023 survey data among 876 young adults in states with legal non-medical cannabis, reporting past-month cannabis use and past-year retailer visits. RESULTS: In this sample (M = 27.1, 44.1% male, 31.7% sexual minority, 17.7% Black, 11.2% Asian, 25.1% Hispanic), 46.7% "at least sometimes" noticed free samples, 76.5% price promotions, 37.4% subpopulation-targeted promotions; 72.5% health claims on products/ads, 63.1% signage, and 70.5% from budtenders; 72.5% warnings on labels, 65.5% signage, and 38.9% from budtenders; and > 80% age verifications. Multivariable analyses identified sociodemographic correlates of exposure outcomes: greater promotion exposure was associated with Black race; greater health claim exposure with being heterosexual, Black, and less educated; less warning exposure with less education; and less age restriction exposure with being younger, male, and Black. Retail exposures were associated with use-related outcomes: more frequent cannabis use was associated with less health claim exposure; greater perceived social acceptability with greater promotion and age restriction exposure; greater perceived risk with greater warning and less age restriction exposure; more problematic use and driving after use with greater promotion and less age restriction exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis retail exposure disparities and their associations with use-related outcomes highlight the importance of regulatory and prevention efforts.

APA Citation

Berg, Carla J.; Romm, Katelyn F.; LoParco, Cassidy R.; Rossheim, Matthew E.; Cui, Yuxian; Platt, Elizabeth; Yang, Y Tony; Wang, Yan; Kasson, Erin; Szlyk, Hannah S.; McCready, Darcey M.; and Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A., "Young Adults' Experiences with Cannabis Retailer Marketing and Related Practices: Differences Among Sociodemographic Groups and Associations with Cannabis Use-related Outcomes" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 5278.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/5278

Department

Prevention and Community Health