Exploring Associations between Cannabis Prices, Stores, and Usage after Recreational Legalization

Area of Science:

• Cannabis research
• Public health policy
• Socioeconomic impacts of drug policy

Background:

• Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018, but retail development was gradual.
• Commercial retail expansion occurred between 2019 and 2023.
• Understanding cannabis market evolution is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine changes in cannabis use patterns (prevalence, daily use, product type, age of first use) from 2019-2023.
• To determine associations between these usage changes and retail expansion (store numbers, prices).
• To inform public health strategies regarding cannabis accessibility and consumption.

Main Methods:

• Utilized government data from 10 Canadian provinces over 5 years.
• Analyzed store counts, retail pricing, and self-reported cannabis use.
• Employed panel data linear regressions on 50 province-year observations.

Main Results:

• No significant changes in overall prevalence or daily use rates.
• Increased prevalence in females and older adults (25+), associated with lower prices.
• Shift from dried cannabis to edibles, also linked to price changes.
• Increased mean age of first cannabis use, associated with lower prices and higher store density.

Conclusions:

• Cannabis retail expansion in Canada led to modest usage shifts.
• Observed changes were primarily associated with falling prices, not increased store numbers.
• Price, not retail availability, appears to be a stronger driver of consumption patterns.