Consumer perceptions of legal cannabis products in Canada, 2019–2021: a repeat cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Consumer perceptions of legal cannabis products may drive willingness to purchase from the illegal or legal market; however, little is known on this topic. The current study examined perceptions of legal products among Canadian cannabis consumers over a 3-year period following fe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14492-z |
| _version_ | 1811230530653388800 |
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| author | Elle Wadsworth Fathima Fataar Samantha Goodman Danielle M. Smith Justine Renard Robert Gabrys Rebecca Jesseman David Hammond |
| author_facet | Elle Wadsworth Fathima Fataar Samantha Goodman Danielle M. Smith Justine Renard Robert Gabrys Rebecca Jesseman David Hammond |
| author_sort | Elle Wadsworth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Consumer perceptions of legal cannabis products may drive willingness to purchase from the illegal or legal market; however, little is known on this topic. The current study examined perceptions of legal products among Canadian cannabis consumers over a 3-year period following federal legalization of non-medical cannabis in 2018. Methods Data were analyzed from Canadian respondents in the International Cannabis Policy Study, a repeat cross-sectional survey conducted in 2019–2021. Respondents were 15,311 past 12-month cannabis consumers of legal age to purchase cannabis. Weighted logistic regression models examined the association between perceptions of legal cannabis and province of residence, and frequency of cannabis use over time. Results In 2021, cannabis consumers perceived legal cannabis to be safer to buy (54.0%), more convenient to buy (47.8%), more expensive (47.2%), safer to use (46.8%) and higher quality (29.3%) than illegal cannabis. Except for safety of purchasing, consumers had more favourable perceptions of legal cannabis in 2021 than 2019 across all outcomes. For example, consumers had higher odds of perceiving legal cannabis as more convenient to buy in 2021 than 2019 (AOR = 3.09, 95%CI: 2.65,3.60). More frequent consumers had less favourable perceptions of legal cannabis than less frequent consumers. Conclusions Three years since legalization, Canadian cannabis consumers generally had increasingly favourable perceptions of legal vs. illegal products – except for price – with variation across the provinces and frequency of cannabis use. To achieve public health objectives of legalization, federal and provincial governments must ensure that legal cannabis products are preferred to illegal, without appealing to non-consumers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:30:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-12b1b248b43941f49889bc4592157306 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:30:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-12b1b248b43941f49889bc45921573062022-12-22T03:36:52ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-11-0122111110.1186/s12889-022-14492-zConsumer perceptions of legal cannabis products in Canada, 2019–2021: a repeat cross-sectional studyElle Wadsworth0Fathima Fataar1Samantha Goodman2Danielle M. Smith3Justine Renard4Robert Gabrys5Rebecca Jesseman6David Hammond7School of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooDepartment of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterCanadian Centre On Substance Use and AddictionCanadian Centre On Substance Use and AddictionCanadian Centre On Substance Use and AddictionSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooAbstract Background Consumer perceptions of legal cannabis products may drive willingness to purchase from the illegal or legal market; however, little is known on this topic. The current study examined perceptions of legal products among Canadian cannabis consumers over a 3-year period following federal legalization of non-medical cannabis in 2018. Methods Data were analyzed from Canadian respondents in the International Cannabis Policy Study, a repeat cross-sectional survey conducted in 2019–2021. Respondents were 15,311 past 12-month cannabis consumers of legal age to purchase cannabis. Weighted logistic regression models examined the association between perceptions of legal cannabis and province of residence, and frequency of cannabis use over time. Results In 2021, cannabis consumers perceived legal cannabis to be safer to buy (54.0%), more convenient to buy (47.8%), more expensive (47.2%), safer to use (46.8%) and higher quality (29.3%) than illegal cannabis. Except for safety of purchasing, consumers had more favourable perceptions of legal cannabis in 2021 than 2019 across all outcomes. For example, consumers had higher odds of perceiving legal cannabis as more convenient to buy in 2021 than 2019 (AOR = 3.09, 95%CI: 2.65,3.60). More frequent consumers had less favourable perceptions of legal cannabis than less frequent consumers. Conclusions Three years since legalization, Canadian cannabis consumers generally had increasingly favourable perceptions of legal vs. illegal products – except for price – with variation across the provinces and frequency of cannabis use. To achieve public health objectives of legalization, federal and provincial governments must ensure that legal cannabis products are preferred to illegal, without appealing to non-consumers.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14492-zCannabisMarijuanaLegalizationPerceptionsPriceSafety |
| spellingShingle | Elle Wadsworth Fathima Fataar Samantha Goodman Danielle M. Smith Justine Renard Robert Gabrys Rebecca Jesseman David Hammond Consumer perceptions of legal cannabis products in Canada, 2019–2021: a repeat cross-sectional study BMC Public Health Cannabis Marijuana Legalization Perceptions Price Safety |
| title | Consumer perceptions of legal cannabis products in Canada, 2019–2021: a repeat cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Consumer perceptions of legal cannabis products in Canada, 2019–2021: a repeat cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Consumer perceptions of legal cannabis products in Canada, 2019–2021: a repeat cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Consumer perceptions of legal cannabis products in Canada, 2019–2021: a repeat cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Consumer perceptions of legal cannabis products in Canada, 2019–2021: a repeat cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | consumer perceptions of legal cannabis products in canada 2019 2021 a repeat cross sectional study |
| topic | Cannabis Marijuana Legalization Perceptions Price Safety |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14492-z |
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