Legalization of recreational cannabis: Facilitators and barriers to switching from an illegal to a legal source
Illicit markets persist in places where recreational cannabis has been legalized. This study aimed to identify perceived facilitators/barriers of switching from an illicit to a licit cannabis source. Using a cross-sectional qualitative approach, 529 students, from one New Zealand university, complet...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Preventive Medicine Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335521003302 |
| _version_ | 1818402627506929664 |
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| author | Kirsten Robertson Maree Thyne |
| author_facet | Kirsten Robertson Maree Thyne |
| author_sort | Kirsten Robertson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Illicit markets persist in places where recreational cannabis has been legalized. This study aimed to identify perceived facilitators/barriers of switching from an illicit to a licit cannabis source. Using a cross-sectional qualitative approach, 529 students, from one New Zealand university, completed a survey investigating the facilitators/barriers to switching through two open-ended questions. Perceived facilitators for switching included: safety (63.1%); price (42.7%); legal, no risk of convictions (35.3%); increased accessibility (32.3%); product diversity (14.2%). Perceived barriers included: price (66.4%); judgement (36%); regulation (28.9%); loyalty to current supplier (27.2%); reduced accessibility (13.2%). The findings provide recommendations for policies aimed at tipping people in favor of a licit over an illicit source. Avoiding arrest/convictions, and easier access, were not primary facilitators for switching. Thus, providing a licit market might be insufficient in the absence of other competitive factors, such as communicating improved product safety. Competitive pricing and regulation (tetrahydrocannabinol strength/quantity limits) were also barriers. Given legal markets aimed at minimizing harm are constrained with competing in these areas, it is significant that our findings identified other barriers which could be overcome, including limiting surveillance and quantity limits and positioning stores to preserve anonymity. The findings also highlight that loyalty to current illicit suppliers will be a significant barrier. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T08:11:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3a31bc3e2df4b32a47a7952f8a183a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2211-3355 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T08:11:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Preventive Medicine Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3a31bc3e2df4b32a47a7952f8a183a82022-12-21T23:10:04ZengElsevierPreventive Medicine Reports2211-33552021-12-0124101639Legalization of recreational cannabis: Facilitators and barriers to switching from an illegal to a legal sourceKirsten Robertson0Maree Thyne1Corresponding author.; Department of Marketing, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandDepartment of Marketing, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandIllicit markets persist in places where recreational cannabis has been legalized. This study aimed to identify perceived facilitators/barriers of switching from an illicit to a licit cannabis source. Using a cross-sectional qualitative approach, 529 students, from one New Zealand university, completed a survey investigating the facilitators/barriers to switching through two open-ended questions. Perceived facilitators for switching included: safety (63.1%); price (42.7%); legal, no risk of convictions (35.3%); increased accessibility (32.3%); product diversity (14.2%). Perceived barriers included: price (66.4%); judgement (36%); regulation (28.9%); loyalty to current supplier (27.2%); reduced accessibility (13.2%). The findings provide recommendations for policies aimed at tipping people in favor of a licit over an illicit source. Avoiding arrest/convictions, and easier access, were not primary facilitators for switching. Thus, providing a licit market might be insufficient in the absence of other competitive factors, such as communicating improved product safety. Competitive pricing and regulation (tetrahydrocannabinol strength/quantity limits) were also barriers. Given legal markets aimed at minimizing harm are constrained with competing in these areas, it is significant that our findings identified other barriers which could be overcome, including limiting surveillance and quantity limits and positioning stores to preserve anonymity. The findings also highlight that loyalty to current illicit suppliers will be a significant barrier.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335521003302Cannabis regulationLegalizationPolicyCompetitive advantageBarriers and facilitators to switching |
| spellingShingle | Kirsten Robertson Maree Thyne Legalization of recreational cannabis: Facilitators and barriers to switching from an illegal to a legal source Preventive Medicine Reports Cannabis regulation Legalization Policy Competitive advantage Barriers and facilitators to switching |
| title | Legalization of recreational cannabis: Facilitators and barriers to switching from an illegal to a legal source |
| title_full | Legalization of recreational cannabis: Facilitators and barriers to switching from an illegal to a legal source |
| title_fullStr | Legalization of recreational cannabis: Facilitators and barriers to switching from an illegal to a legal source |
| title_full_unstemmed | Legalization of recreational cannabis: Facilitators and barriers to switching from an illegal to a legal source |
| title_short | Legalization of recreational cannabis: Facilitators and barriers to switching from an illegal to a legal source |
| title_sort | legalization of recreational cannabis facilitators and barriers to switching from an illegal to a legal source |
| topic | Cannabis regulation Legalization Policy Competitive advantage Barriers and facilitators to switching |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335521003302 |
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