Neighborhood demographics in relation to marketing and regulation-related factors among cannabis retailers in 5 US cities

• Published in: Drug and alcohol dependence Vol. 265; p. 112471
• Main Authors: Berg, Carla J., Schleicher, Nina C., Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A., Romm, Katelyn F., LoParco, Cassidy R., Cui, Yuxian, Wang, Yan, McCready, Darcey M., Chakraborty, Rishika, Henriksen, Lisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2024
• Subjects: Cannabis; Health communication; Health disparities; Health policy; Marketing; Public health; Cannabis; Health policy; AOR; CARMA; CI; MHHI; Q1 – Q4; Public health; Health communication; Marketing; Health disparities
• ISSN: 0376-8716; 1879-0046; 1879-0046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112471

This study assessed differences in cannabis retailer practices by neighborhood sociodemographics, which can inform disparity-relevant interventions. Multilevel multivariable logistic regressions examined retailers’ census tract demographics (percent <21 years-old; non-Hispanic White, Black, or other race, Hispanic; median household income [MHHI]) in relation to 2022 audit data regarding marketing (youth-oriented signs, health-claims, exterior ads, price specials, membership programs, delivery/pick-up) and regulatory compliance (pregnancy and health-risk warning signage, exterior minimum-age signage) among 150 randomly-selected retailers in 5 US cities/states (Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, California). 20.7 % had youth-oriented signage, 28.7 % health-claim signage, 27.3 % exterior ads, 75.3 % price specials, 39.3 % membership programs, 28.0 % delivery/pick-up, 72.0 % pregnancy warnings, 38.0 % health-risk warnings, and 64.0 % minimum-age signage. Retailers in tracts with higher percent <21 and non-Hispanic White had lower odds of youth-oriented signage. Higher MHHI had higher odds of health-claims; higher percent Hispanic had lower odds of health-claims. Higher MHHI had lower odds of exterior ads. Higher percent <21 had lower odds of price specials. Higher percent non-Hispanic White had higher odds of membership programs. Higher percent non-Hispanic White, other race, and Hispanic had higher odds of delivery/pick-up; higher MHHI had lower odds of delivery/pick-up. Higher percent non-Hispanic White had higher odds of pregnancy warnings. Higher percent <21 had lowers odds of health-risk warnings. Demographics were unrelated to minimum-age signage. Given key findings (e.g., less regulation-related signage in racial/ethnic minority communities), cannabis retail could exacerbate disparities, underscoring the need for related regulatory and prevention efforts. •Cannabis retailer practices may differ by neighborhood demographics.•Exterior ads were more common among retailers in lower-income neighborhoods.•Warning signs were more common among retailers in more White neighborhoods.•Cannabis retail practices could exacerbate cannabis-related disparities.