The Impact of Cannabis Legalization in Canada on Adolescents’ Perceptions

• Author: Marvin D. Krank,Jill M. Robinson,Angela Meyer,Maya A. Pilin,Clerissa Copeland
• DOI: 10.1177/0022042620908200
• Published date: 01 July 2020
• Date: 01 July 2020
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0022042620908200

Journal of Drug Issues

2020, Vol. 50(3) 235 –241

© The Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/0022042620908200

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Article

The Impact of Cannabis

Legalization in Canada on

Adolescents’ Perceptions

Jill M. Robinson1, Clerissa Copeland1, Maya A. Pilin1,

Angela Meyer1, and Marvin D. Krank1

Abstract

Since the legalization of cannabis in Canada in October 2018, research has not reached a clear

conclusion on how legalization impacts adolescents’ perceptions of the substance. This study

sought to examine how the nationwide legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada impacted

youth opinions of legalization. Surveys were administered to 398 Grade 8 students in May 2017

(pre-legalization) and 377 Grade 8 students in December 2018 (post-legalization). Participants

completed an open-ended question regarding their opinion on cannabis legalization and a ranking

of whether legalization of cannabis was very good (1), good (2), bad (3), or very bad (4). Analyses

revealed that young adolescents primarily hold negative views toward cannabis legalization. No

significant difference existed between theme frequencies or ratings when comparing responses

prior to and following legalization. These results suggest that legalization of recreational cannabis

use in Canada had little effect on youth perceptions of cannabis legalization.

Keywords

cannabis legalization, youth, outcome expectancies, perceptions

In October 2018, recreational cannabis use was legalized nationwide in Canada. The Cannabis

Act details that licensed production of cannabis is controlled by the Federal Government,

whereas distribution and sale of cannabis will be provincially regulated (Government of

Canada, 2012). Similar to other provincial jurisdictions, British Columbia set the legal age to

purchase and use cannabis to 19 years of age and adults are able to purchase cannabis from

both Government-operated stores and online (Government of Canada, 2012). By the first day

of cannabis legalization, only one store in Kamloops, British Columbia had acquired provin-

cial licensing. As such, adults in British Columbia were only able to purchase cannabis legally

at this store or online. Cannabis is the most predominantly used illicit drug in Canada, with

youth (15 to 19 years old) and young adults (20 to 24 years old) consistently using the most

cannabis (Government of Canada, 2012, 2015, 2017). This is concerning considering adoles-

cents’ continuing brain development and susceptibility to the negative effects of cannabis (see

Asbridge et al., 2014; Melchior et al., 2017).

1The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada

Corresponding Author:

Maya A. Pilin, Psychology, The University of British Columbia, 1147 Research Road, Kelowna, BC, Canada V1V 1V7.

Email: mayapilin@alumni.ubc.ca

908200JODXXX10.1177/0022042620908200Journal of Drug IssuesRobinson et al.

research-article2020