Correct Recognition and Appeal Ratings of Copycat Cannabis Edible Packaging: Evidence from an Online Experiment

Introduction: Despite prohibitions against youth-appealing packages, deceptive "copycat" cannabis edible packages have been commonly seen in U.S. states that legalized recreational cannabis. Copycat packages mimic the branding features of popular food products, posing a high risk for accidental ingestion, particularly for the younger population. Materials and Methods: An online experiment was conducted among a representative sample of young adults aged 18-29 (N = 2,523). Participants were asked in timed trials to identify whether each package in a series of images contained cannabis content. Regression analysis was conducted to analyze the association between package type and correct identification and the association between correct identification and appeal ratings. Results: Copycat cannabis packages were associated with lower odds of correct identification of cannabis content (odds ratio = 0.35, 95% CI = [0.31, 0.40]) compared with the non-copycat branded cannabis package. Correct identification of cannabis content was associated with lower appeal ratings (odds ratio = 0.75, 95% CI = [0.69, 0.81]). Discussion: Copycat cannabis packages were associated with elevated risk of misidentification of cannabis content, making them a public health risk for accidental ingestion. Package features that make a package easily identifiable were less appealing, underscoring the need of requiring salient features to indicate cannabis content on cannabis packages.