“The Perfect Formula

” Evaluating Health Claims, Products and Pricing on Cannabis Dispensary Websites in Two Recently Legalized States

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21645801
AutoresSamantha Hoeper (0000-0001-7904-1574, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA), Eric Crosbie (0000-0002-6219-298X, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA, autor de correspondencia), Lisa M Holmes (0000-0001-5266-8385, Departments of Geography and Demography, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA), Lindsey Godoy (School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA), Vincent DeFrank (School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA), Christine Hoang (0000-0003-3161-3953, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA), Pamela M Ling (0000-0001-6166-9347, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA)
Año2022
Volumen57
Número8
Páginas1207-1214
Fecha de publicación2022-07-03
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSubstance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10826084.2022.2069267
PMID35532143
OpenAlexW4229375474
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas32

Introduction: Many cannabis dispensaries market and sell their products online through websites designed to attract and maintain customers; often, these websites incorporate a variety of product claims and other marketing tactics. This study evaluated website content, product pricing and discounts on dispensary websites in California and Nevada, states that legalized recreational cannabis in 2016. Methods: We content coded product availability, marketing claims and discounts on cannabis dispensary websites in the San Francisco Bay Area (N = 34) and Reno (N = 15) from March to June 2020 using a web crawler to scrape pricing information for four product types. We conducted bivariate analyses comparing both locations. Results: Prices were significantly lower for flower, edibles, and concentrates in Reno compared to the Bay Area, but not cartridges. In both areas, a range of marketing claims were made regarding the health effects of certain products. The most common were that cannabis products treated pain, nausea/vomiting, spasms, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Products were also said to promote creativity and euphoria. Other marketing claims related to potency, pleasure enhancement, and improved social interactions. Discounts targeted to senior citizens and veterans were found on over half of all websites. Conclusions: Dispensary websites in the Bay Area and Reno frequently make health-related claims which should not be allowed in absence of scientific evidence. Non-health related claims are similar to those used for selling e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. Monitoring cannabis dispensary websites provides insight into local sales tactics and may help identify subpopulations for research on behavioral impacts of cannabis marketing activities

Advertising · Business · Cannabis · Dispensary · Euphoriant · Family medicine · Political science · Psychiatry · Respondent · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Law · Medicine · Psychology · Smoking Behavior and Cessation · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes · Marketing