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Background: The well-documented relationship between mental health and substance use is corroborated by recent research on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on cannabis use behavior. Social isolation, anxiety, depression, stress, and boredom are all linked to the greater prevalence of cannabis and other substance use. Objectives: To better understand the relationship between infection rates in Canada and cannabis use behavior, this research examines the prevalence and frequency of cannabis use across health regions in all 10 provinces at the height of the pandemic. Methods: Our analyses linked data from the National Cannabis Survey with Covid-19 case rates and cannabis availability through legal retail outlets at the end of 2020, 2 years after cannabis legalization came into effect. Hierarchical generalized linear models were employed, controlling for age, gender, SES, mental health, the number of cannabis stores per square kilometer, and prevalence of cannabis use in each health region prior to the pandemic. Results: Even after controlling for other predictors, our models show that those residing where infection rates are higher are more likely to use cannabis and use it more often. Conclusions: The findings of this study support investing in better-targeted harm reduction measures in areas hit hardest by the pandemic to address contributing societal conditions. The implications are noteworthy for drug policy observers in North America and other global jurisdictions pursuing evidence-based public health approaches to regulating cannabis and other substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The accessibility of legal cannabis in Canada may influence how consumers source their cannabis. The aims of this study were to examine (a) the distance between respondents' homes and legal retail stores, (b) the cannabis sources used in the past 12 months, and (c) the association between cannabis sources used and distance to legal retail stores. Method: Data were analyzed from Canadian respondents participating in the International Cannabis Policy Study from 2019 to 2021. Respondents were 15,311 past-12-month cannabis consumers of legal age to purchase cannabis. Weighted logistic regression models examined cannabis sources used and their association with the Euclidean distance to the nearest legal store, province of residence, and year (n = 12,928). Results: Respondents lived closer to a legal retail store in 2021 (1.5 km) versus 2019 (6.8 km) as the number of retail stores increased. Respondents in 2020 and 2021 had higher odds of obtaining cannabis from legal sources (e.g., legal stores: 47.9% and 60.0% vs. 38.6%, respectively, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] range: 1.41-2.42) and lower odds of obtaining cannabis from illegal sources versus 2019 (e.g., dealers: 22.6% and 19.9% vs. 29.1%, respectively, AOR range: 0.65-0.54). Respondents who lived closest to legal stores had higher odds of sourcing from legal stores and lower odds of sourcing from legal websites or growing their own cannabis. Conclusions: Legal cannabis stores are increasingly accessible to people living in Canada 3 years after legalization. Household proximity to a legal cannabis store was associated with sourcing cannabis from legal retail stores, but only among those who live very close (<3 km). Findings suggest that proximity to legal cannabis stores may aid uptake of the legal market, yet there may be diminishing returns after a certain point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the self-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cannabis consumption and behaviors among past 12-month cannabis consumers in Canada and the U.S. across different cannabis laws. Cross-sectional survey data were collected in 2020 from respondents recruited through online commercial panels, aged 16–65, who consumed cannabis in the past 12 months (n = 13,689). Weighted multinomial logistic regression models examined differences between jurisdictions for five outcomes: 1) cannabis consumption; 2) use of product types; 3) use of sources to obtain cannabis; 4) legality of source used; and 5) access to cannabis. Approximately one third of cannabis consumers reported changes to their consumption during the pandemic. Edibles (23% – 31%) and dried flower (21% – 30%) were the two most common products that respondents reported they were "more likely" to use during the pandemic. Most consumers reported "no difference" to changes in sourcing cannabis. Compared to consumers in U.S. recreational states, consumers in U.S. medical (AOR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.50) and illegal states (AOR = 1.22, CI: 1.00,1.48) had higher odds of reporting it was "harder" to access cannabis, and consumers in Canada had lower odds (AOR = 0.73, CI: 0.63,0.84). Future research should examine whether these changes remain after public health restrictions due to the pandemic are removed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors comment on an article by W. Hall and colleagues on regulating delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in cannabis products. Topics include policy options discussed by W. Hall and colleagues with a view to reduce cannabis-related harm, the introduction by Quebec and Uruguay of caps on THC levels for the products supplied through the legal market, and possible impact of accommodating different THC concentrations among different legal supply options.

Background: In 2018, Canada legalized the use and sale of non-medical cannabis, with most provinces also permitting home cultivation. To advance the knowledge of home cultivation patterns in Canada within the context of legalization, this study examines (1) the demographics and use patterns of cannabis home growers before and after legalization and (2) the relationship between home cultivation and cannabis-related risks, including workplace use and driving after cannabis use (DACU). Data and methods: The study is based on seven waves of the National Cannabis Survey, dating from 2018 to 2019. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze home cultivation across several individual and sociodemographic characteristics pre- and post-legalization. Logistic regression was used to examine whether home cultivation is correlated to selected cannabis-related risks. Results: The rate and demographics of home cultivation remained relatively unchanged post-legalization. Those most likely to cultivate cannabis post-legalization were male; 35 years and older; not single; married, common law, divorced, separated or widowed; lived in the Atlantic provinces; consumed cannabis medically or medically and non-medically on a daily or almost daily basis; had more than a high school diploma; and reported "smoking" as their primary consumption method. Home cultivation was correlated to workplace use but not to DACU. Interpretation: The research provides early insights into home cultivation within a legalized framework. It also shows a relationship between home cultivation and certain cannabis-related risks (e.g., workplace use), suggesting a need for future research to determine whether tailored education and policy interventions are needed to target cannabis home growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watching films is a common activity for children outside of school, and incorporating popular films that contain scientific references has the potential to spark interest in the classroom. Clips rather than entire films can be used, as the children will maintain focus on the lesson objectives while being excited by the appeal of the film. The use of film clips has been found to stimulate children and give an alternative method of learning that links an activity children enjoy at home directly to the classroom. When used as starters they motivate the children for the lesson ahead and, as plenaries, they round off a lesson; they can even be used to break up longer written assignments. In this article, the authors report on a project using film clips to stimulate children's interest, and the web-based resource they have created. (Contains 4 figures and 5 online resources.)

Introduction: Concurrent use of tobacco and cannabis may impede successful cigarette smoking cessation. This study examined whether changes in cannabis use frequency were associated with smoking cessation.Aims and Methods: Nationally representative samples of adult cigarette smokers from Canada (n = 1455), the United States (n = 892), England (n = 1416), and Australia (n = 717) were surveyed in 2016 and 2018. In each year, smokers reported how often they used cannabis in the previous 12 months. Reports were compared to determine whether cannabis use increased, remained unchanged, or decreased. Smoking cessation outcomes, measured in 2018, were (1) any attempt to quit in the previous year, (2) currently quit, and (3) currently quit for at least 6 months. Weighted multivariable logistic regression estimated the association between changes in cannabis use and cessation outcomes.Results: Cigarette smokers who increased their frequency of cannabis use were significantly less likely to be currently quit than noncannabis-using smokers (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.31% to 0.86%); they were also less likely to have quit for at least 6 months (aOR = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.15% to 0.62%).Conclusions: Smokers who increase their frequency of cannabis use have poorer smoking cessation outcomes compared to noncannabis-using smokers. It will be important to monitor the impact of cannabis legalization on patterns of cannabis use, and whether this influences cigarette smoking cessation rates.Implications: Cigarette smokers who start using cannabis may be less likely to quit cigarettes compared with smokers who do not use cannabis at all. If smokers who also use cannabis are more likely to continue smoking, it is important to monitor these trends and understand the impact, if any, on smoking cessation in jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis for nonmedical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In October 2018, Canada became the second country to legalize non-medical cannabis. However, medical cannabis has been legally available in Canada since 2001 and, in 2015, approximately 800,000 Canadians reported using cannabis for medical purposes. Mental health is a common reason reported for using medical cannabis. Objectives: The current study examined perceived mental health among four groups: (1) Non/ex-users; (2) Recent non-medical users; (3) Recent unauthorized medical users; and (4) Recent authorized medical users. Methods: A total of 867 Canadian cannabis users and nonusers aged 16 to 30 were recruited through an online consumer panel in 2017, one year before non-medical cannabis legalization. Logistic and multinomial regression models were fitted to examine differences among cannabis use status and mental health measures. All estimates represent weighted data. Results: Self-reported emotional and mental health problems were higher among unauthorized (83.9%) and authorized medical cannabis users (83.2%) compared to non-medical users and non/ex-users (44.5% and 39.5%, respectively). Medical users were more likely to report using cannabis to manage or improve mental health problems than non-medical users (p <.001). There were few differences between unauthorized and authorized medical users, and between non/ex-users and non-medical users. Conclusions: The findings highlight a discrepancy between the recommendation that individuals with some mental health problems should avoid cannabis and the widespread practice of using cannabis to manage mental health. Education and reduced stigma around using cannabis after legalization in Canada may help address users coming forwards regarding use of cannabis for mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]