Noticing of cannabis health warning labels in Canada and the US

IntroductionProduct labelling and health warnings are important components of regulatory frameworks for consumer products such as tobacco, alcohol and food. However, evidence in the cannabis domain is limited. This study aimed to examine the reach of mandated health warnings on cannabis products usi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Samantha Goodman, David Hammond
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Health Agency of Canada 2021-08-01
Series:Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada
Online Access:https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-41-no-7-8-2021/cannabis-health-warning-canada-us.html
_version_ 1831667836494282752
author Samantha Goodman
David Hammond
author_facet Samantha Goodman
David Hammond
author_sort Samantha Goodman
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionProduct labelling and health warnings are important components of regulatory frameworks for consumer products such as tobacco, alcohol and food. However, evidence in the cannabis domain is limited. This study aimed to examine the reach of mandated health warnings on cannabis products using a natural experimental design. MethodsData are from the online International Cannabis Policy Study 2018 and 2019 surveys. Respondents were men and women aged 16 to 65 years in Canada and US states with illegal and legal nonmedical cannabis (“illegal” and “legal” states, respectively) (n = 72 549). Regression models tested differences in noticing health warnings on cannabis packages pre- and post-legalization in Canada, with comparisons to US states, adjusting for cannabis use, cannabis source and sociodemographics. ResultsRespondents in Canada showed a greater increase in noticing warnings (+8.9%) in 2019 (14.7%) versus 2018 (5.8%) than respondents in US “illegal” states (+2.8%) and “legal” states (+3.2%). In 2019, consumers residing in jurisdictions with legal recreational cannabis who purchased from legal retail sources were more likely to report noticing warnings than consumers who obtained cannabis from illegal/unstated sources (Canada: 40.4% vs. 15.3%; US “legal” states: 35.3% vs. 17.0%). Regular cannabis consumers were more likely to notice warnings than less frequent consumers. ConclusionMandating warning labels on cannabis products may increase exposure to messages communicating the health risks of cannabis, especially among frequent consumers and those who access the legal market.
first_indexed 2024-12-19T20:18:54Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d0eb74dc47904ede86c5077b089123ac
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2368-738X
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-19T20:18:54Z
publishDate 2021-08-01
publisher Public Health Agency of Canada
record_format Article
series Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada
spelling doaj.art-d0eb74dc47904ede86c5077b089123ac2022-12-21T20:07:04ZengPublic Health Agency of CanadaHealth Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada2368-738X2021-08-01417/820121010.24095/hpcdp.41.7/8.01Noticing of cannabis health warning labels in Canada and the USSamantha Goodman0David Hammond1School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, CanadaSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, CanadaIntroductionProduct labelling and health warnings are important components of regulatory frameworks for consumer products such as tobacco, alcohol and food. However, evidence in the cannabis domain is limited. This study aimed to examine the reach of mandated health warnings on cannabis products using a natural experimental design. MethodsData are from the online International Cannabis Policy Study 2018 and 2019 surveys. Respondents were men and women aged 16 to 65 years in Canada and US states with illegal and legal nonmedical cannabis (“illegal” and “legal” states, respectively) (n = 72 549). Regression models tested differences in noticing health warnings on cannabis packages pre- and post-legalization in Canada, with comparisons to US states, adjusting for cannabis use, cannabis source and sociodemographics. ResultsRespondents in Canada showed a greater increase in noticing warnings (+8.9%) in 2019 (14.7%) versus 2018 (5.8%) than respondents in US “illegal” states (+2.8%) and “legal” states (+3.2%). In 2019, consumers residing in jurisdictions with legal recreational cannabis who purchased from legal retail sources were more likely to report noticing warnings than consumers who obtained cannabis from illegal/unstated sources (Canada: 40.4% vs. 15.3%; US “legal” states: 35.3% vs. 17.0%). Regular cannabis consumers were more likely to notice warnings than less frequent consumers. ConclusionMandating warning labels on cannabis products may increase exposure to messages communicating the health risks of cannabis, especially among frequent consumers and those who access the legal market.https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-41-no-7-8-2021/cannabis-health-warning-canada-us.html
spellingShingle Samantha Goodman
David Hammond
Noticing of cannabis health warning labels in Canada and the US
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada
title Noticing of cannabis health warning labels in Canada and the US
title_full Noticing of cannabis health warning labels in Canada and the US
title_fullStr Noticing of cannabis health warning labels in Canada and the US
title_full_unstemmed Noticing of cannabis health warning labels in Canada and the US
title_short Noticing of cannabis health warning labels in Canada and the US
title_sort noticing of cannabis health warning labels in canada and the us
url https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-41-no-7-8-2021/cannabis-health-warning-canada-us.html
work_keys_str_mv AT samanthagoodman noticingofcannabishealthwarninglabelsincanadaandtheus
AT davidhammond noticingofcannabishealthwarninglabelsincanadaandtheus