Local variation in cannabis use patterns among young adults in the San Francisco Bay Area

Examining the influence of rurality on frequency of cannabis use and severity of consequences as moderated by age and gender

AIM

A number of important health disparities associated with place of residence have been reported in the literature. The Remoteness Index (RI) was developed to account for community size, population density, and proximity to larger population centres. This exploratory analysis uses the RI to examine community level associations related to cannabis use.

DESIGN

This secondary analysis uses data collected as part of a randomized controlled trial of a brief cannabis intervention. Participants' place of residence was matched to a corresponding value on the RI. Univariate regressions of RI and cannabis related outcomes were modeled with age and gender as moderating variables. Three outcomes were analyzed separately: 1) total number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days; 2) risk of experiencing cannabis related problems; and 3) number of self-reported consequences related to cannabis.

FINDINGS

Participants living in more remote areas were significantly more likely to drive within an hour of using cannabis, but also reported fewer consequences and less risky cannabis use. Although the overall regression models tested in the moderation analyses were significant, there were no interaction effects between RI and age or gender.

CONCLUSION

While this analysis did not find significant conditional effects of age or gender on the relationship between cannabis use and place of residence, further research is needed to investigate other factors which may contribute to health disparities related to substance use between individuals living in different geographic regions.

"The Perfect Formula:" Evaluating Health Claims, Products and Pricing on Cannabis Dispensary Websites in Two Recently Legalized States

Introduction: Many cannabis dispensaries market and sell their products online through websites designed to attract and maintain customers; often, these websites incorporate a variety of product claims and other marketing tactics. This study evaluated website content, product pricing and discounts on dispensary websites in California and Nevada, states that legalized recreational cannabis in 2016. Methods: We content coded product availability, marketing claims and discounts on cannabis dispensary websites in the San Francisco Bay Area (N = 34) and Reno (N = 15) from March to June 2020 using a web crawler to scrape pricing information for four product types. We conducted bivariate analyses comparing both locations. Results: Prices were significantly lower for flower, edibles, and concentrates in Reno compared to the Bay Area, but not cartridges. In both areas, a range of marketing claims were made regarding the health effects of certain products. The most common were that cannabis products treated pain, nausea/vomiting, spasms, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Products were also said to promote creativity and euphoria. Other marketing claims related to potency, pleasure enhancement, and improved social interactions. Discounts targeted to senior citizens and veterans were found on over half of all websites. Conclusions: Dispensary websites in the Bay Area and Reno frequently make health-related claims which should not be allowed in absence of scientific evidence. Non-health related claims are similar to those used for selling e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. Monitoring cannabis dispensary websites provides insight into local sales tactics and may help identify subpopulations for research on behavioral impacts of cannabis marketing activities.