Distribution of legal retail cannabis stores in Canada by neighbourhood deprivation
Abstract Objectives In legal cannabis markets, the distribution of retail stores has the potential to influence transitions from illegal to legal sources as well as consumer patterns of use. The current study examined the distribution of legal cannabis stores in Canada according to level of neighbou...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Cannabis Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-023-00211-x |
| _version_ | 1827326338340487168 |
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| author | Fathima Fataar Pete Driezen Akwasi Owusu-Bempah David Hammond |
| author_facet | Fathima Fataar Pete Driezen Akwasi Owusu-Bempah David Hammond |
| author_sort | Fathima Fataar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives In legal cannabis markets, the distribution of retail stores has the potential to influence transitions from illegal to legal sources as well as consumer patterns of use. The current study examined the distribution of legal cannabis stores in Canada according to level of neighbourhood deprivation. Methods Postal code data for all legal cannabis stores in Canada were collected from government websites from October 2018 to September 2021. This data was linked to the Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec measures for material and social neighbourhood deprivation. Descriptive data are reported, including differences across provinces with different retail systems. Results At the national level, there were approximately 8.0 retail cannabis stores per 100,000 individuals age 15+ in September 2021. The distribution of stores was closely aligned with the expected distribution across levels of material deprivation: for example, 19.5% of stores were located in neighbourhoods with the lowest level of material deprivation versus 19.1% in the highest level. More cannabis stores were located in the ‘most socially deprived’ or ‘socially deprived’ neighbourhoods (37.2% and 22.1%, respectively), characterized by a higher proportion of residents who live alone, are unmarried, or in single-parent families. The distribution of stores in provinces and territories were generally consistent with national patterns with a few exceptions. Conclusion In the first 3 years following cannabis legalization in Canada, retail cannabis stores were evenly distributed across materially deprived neighbourhoods but were more common in socially deprived neighbourhoods. Future monitoring of retail store locations is required as the legal retail market evolves in Canada. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:43:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b27c12871e4247b1b362e12a95f7b637 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2522-5782 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:43:00Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Cannabis Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-b27c12871e4247b1b362e12a95f7b6372024-03-05T20:09:23ZengBMCJournal of Cannabis Research2522-57822024-02-01611710.1186/s42238-023-00211-xDistribution of legal retail cannabis stores in Canada by neighbourhood deprivationFathima Fataar0Pete Driezen1Akwasi Owusu-Bempah2David Hammond3School of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooDepartment of Sociology, University of TorontoSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooAbstract Objectives In legal cannabis markets, the distribution of retail stores has the potential to influence transitions from illegal to legal sources as well as consumer patterns of use. The current study examined the distribution of legal cannabis stores in Canada according to level of neighbourhood deprivation. Methods Postal code data for all legal cannabis stores in Canada were collected from government websites from October 2018 to September 2021. This data was linked to the Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec measures for material and social neighbourhood deprivation. Descriptive data are reported, including differences across provinces with different retail systems. Results At the national level, there were approximately 8.0 retail cannabis stores per 100,000 individuals age 15+ in September 2021. The distribution of stores was closely aligned with the expected distribution across levels of material deprivation: for example, 19.5% of stores were located in neighbourhoods with the lowest level of material deprivation versus 19.1% in the highest level. More cannabis stores were located in the ‘most socially deprived’ or ‘socially deprived’ neighbourhoods (37.2% and 22.1%, respectively), characterized by a higher proportion of residents who live alone, are unmarried, or in single-parent families. The distribution of stores in provinces and territories were generally consistent with national patterns with a few exceptions. Conclusion In the first 3 years following cannabis legalization in Canada, retail cannabis stores were evenly distributed across materially deprived neighbourhoods but were more common in socially deprived neighbourhoods. Future monitoring of retail store locations is required as the legal retail market evolves in Canada.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-023-00211-xCannabisMarijuanaCanadaRetail availabilityNeighbourhood deprivation |
| spellingShingle | Fathima Fataar Pete Driezen Akwasi Owusu-Bempah David Hammond Distribution of legal retail cannabis stores in Canada by neighbourhood deprivation Journal of Cannabis Research Cannabis Marijuana Canada Retail availability Neighbourhood deprivation |
| title | Distribution of legal retail cannabis stores in Canada by neighbourhood deprivation |
| title_full | Distribution of legal retail cannabis stores in Canada by neighbourhood deprivation |
| title_fullStr | Distribution of legal retail cannabis stores in Canada by neighbourhood deprivation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution of legal retail cannabis stores in Canada by neighbourhood deprivation |
| title_short | Distribution of legal retail cannabis stores in Canada by neighbourhood deprivation |
| title_sort | distribution of legal retail cannabis stores in canada by neighbourhood deprivation |
| topic | Cannabis Marijuana Canada Retail availability Neighbourhood deprivation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-023-00211-x |
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