Neighborhood demographics in relation to marketing and regulation-related factors among cannabis retailers in 5 US cities

Authors

Carla J. Berg, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA; George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: carlaberg@gwu.edu.
Nina C. Schleicher, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Katelyn F. Romm, TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
Cassidy R. LoParco, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Yuxian Cui, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Yan Wang, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA; George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Darcey M. McCready, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Rishika Chakraborty, School of Nursing, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Lisa Henriksen, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

12-1-2024

Journal

Drug and alcohol dependence

Volume

265

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112471

Keywords

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

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed differences in cannabis retailer practices by neighborhood sociodemographics, which can inform disparity-relevant interventions. METHODS: Multilevel multivariable logistic regressions examined retailers' census tract demographics (percent <21 years-old; non-Hispanic White, Black, or other race, Hispanic; median household income [MHHI]) in relation to 2022 audit data regarding marketing (youth-oriented signs, health-claims, exterior ads, price specials, membership programs, delivery/pick-up) and regulatory compliance (pregnancy and health-risk warning signage, exterior minimum-age signage) among 150 randomly-selected retailers in 5 US cities/states (Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, California). RESULTS: 20.7 % had youth-oriented signage, 28.7 % health-claim signage, 27.3 % exterior ads, 75.3 % price specials, 39.3 % membership programs, 28.0 % delivery/pick-up, 72.0 % pregnancy warnings, 38.0 % health-risk warnings, and 64.0 % minimum-age signage. Retailers in tracts with higher percent <21 and non-Hispanic White had lower odds of youth-oriented signage. Higher MHHI had higher odds of health-claims; higher percent Hispanic had lower odds of health-claims. Higher MHHI had lower odds of exterior ads. Higher percent <21 had lower odds of price specials. Higher percent non-Hispanic White had higher odds of membership programs. Higher percent non-Hispanic White, other race, and Hispanic had higher odds of delivery/pick-up; higher MHHI had lower odds of delivery/pick-up. Higher percent non-Hispanic White had higher odds of pregnancy warnings. Higher percent <21 had lowers odds of health-risk warnings. Demographics were unrelated to minimum-age signage. CONCLUSIONS: Given key findings (e.g., less regulation-related signage in racial/ethnic minority communities), cannabis retail could exacerbate disparities, underscoring the need for related regulatory and prevention efforts.

APA Citation

Berg, Carla J.; Schleicher, Nina C.; Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A.; Romm, Katelyn F.; LoParco, Cassidy R.; Cui, Yuxian; Wang, Yan; McCready, Darcey M.; Chakraborty, Rishika; and Henriksen, Lisa, "Neighborhood demographics in relation to marketing and regulation-related factors among cannabis retailers in 5 US cities" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 6251.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/6251

Department

Prevention and Community Health