Cannabis Users' Recommended Warnings for Packages of Legally Sold Cannabis: An Australia-Centered Study

Abstract

Introduction: Although cannabis use creates health risks, governments have recently been legalizing either medical use or leisure use. These governments can mandate health warnings on cannabis packages. Prior research examined recommended warnings of cannabis experts. The aim of this study was to obtain suggested cannabis health and safety warnings from cannabis users.Methods: We used a media release, Facebook postings, and announcements in university classes to seek individuals who had used cannabis at least once according to their own report. Using online data collection software that keeps participants anonymous, we asked the individuals to suggest a warning that governments could mandate on cannabis packages.Results: In total, 288 users suggested warnings. Categorizing the warnings into content categories led to six warning topics: (1) risk of harm to mental health and psychological functioning; (2) risk of operating machinery while under the influence; (3) short-term physical side effects; (4) responsible use; (5) long-term negative physical effects; and (6) dependence, addiction, or abuse. The user-suggested warnings overlapped with six expert-recommended warnings identified in prior survey research and included two content areas that did not feature in expert-recommended warnings: short-term physical side effects and the importance of responsible use.Conclusions: The results are consistent with prior findings that some youths perceive cannabis use as potentially harmful. The current findings provide possible new content for warnings on cannabis packages.

Government-mandated warnings on cannabis legally sold for recreational use

“…Only Canada has warnings about the risk of harm to mental health. No government mandates graphic warnings, which are becoming common with regards to tobacco packages (Bekalu et al 2019 ), and no government mandates providing a quit-line phone number, as suggested by recreational users of cannabis in a prior study (Malouff et al 2016 ).…”

“…Canada mandates all nine types of warnings listed in the table a Malouff et al, 2013 . b Malouff et al ( 2016 )…”

“…Collectively, governments that mandate warnings for legally sold recreational cannabis cover nine types of risks to users and others, and the mandated warnings meet most of the suggestions of cannabis experts and recreational users (Malouff and Rooke 2013 ; Malouff et al 2016 ). However, individual governments vary widely in how many risks they cover in their warnings, and some U.S. states have very low coverage of the risks of use, especially compared to Canada.…”

“…The users varied widely in their level of use, with some having used recreational cannabis only once and some using it most days of the week. They suggested warnings that included similar risks to those suggested by experts and also suggested warnings about risks of damage to fetuses; additionally, users suggested a mandated statement encouraging responsible use (Malouff et al 2016 ). It is not known what the users meant by responsible use , but they might have meant something similar to what cannabis researchers have meant when using the expression: Moderation of frequency and quantity of use, use in appropriate settings, and use with respect for non-users (Lau et al 2015 ).…”

Legalizing Recreational Marijuana: Another Pandora’s Box Opened?

“…In their subsequent work, 22 these categories included mental health risks, machinery operational risks, short-term and long-term physical problems, reasonable use, and dependency, addiction, and abuse.…”