Many are familiar with today’s strict compliance requirements for cannabis, even though it is still a young industry. State cannabis officials enforce a variety of regulations that must be followed by all marijuana retailers in the United States. This is to make sure they verify ID and ensure the products are not sold to minors.
The journal Adictive Behaviors published new data that sheds light on how dispensaries comply with these regulations. It found that five adult-use shops in five U.S. towns were following the laws which required patrons to present identification and prove their legal age.
As cannabis retail grows in America, it is vital to monitor the market and inform regulators. This study addresses this need by conducting point-of-sale audits examining regulatory compliance (e.g., age verification, signage), advertising/promotional strategies, products, and pricing…” authors state in the abstract.
Cannabis Compliance: Identification Verification, Warning Signage, and Appealing To Minors
An investigator team from George Washington University’s Milken Institute of Public Health performed point-of-sale inspections of 150 recreational dispensaries randomly chosen in Los Angeles, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Each city was audited 30 times. The audits were conducted in summer 2022.
The majority of retail outlets had signs indicating limited access (87.3%), onsite consumption (73.3%) and distribution to minors (53.3%). The majority of retailers were likely to warn about cannabis use while pregnant or nursing (72%), then health risks (38%), effects on children/youth (18.7%), and DUI (14%).
Contrary to this, 28.7% made health claims regarding cannabis and 20.7% used “youth oriented signage”, while 18% were selling products that had “youth oriented packaging.”
Additional Signage, Marketing, and Product Findings
Other information about dispensaries was also examined in the study. Prices promotions were very common, particularly price specials (75.3%), followed by weekly and monthly specials (66.7%), and signage about membership programs (39.3%).
Signs and promotional materials advertising curbside pickup (28%) or online ordering (25.3%) were found in 44% of stores. 64.7% of the audited shops had social media or website promotions.
Investigators then examined the selection of products offered by retail outlets. E-liquids and oils were the most popular cannabis products (38%) and 24.72% respectively, while edibles appeared most frequently (53%), which is the lowest potent.
Bud and flowers were the most costly product (58%). Joints, however, was 54%. Over 81% of retail outlets sold rolling papers, vaporizers and glass like bongs and water pipes. 22.6% sold CBD products.
Results Echo Past Compliance Data
“Marketing strategies differed across cities, reflecting differences in state-specific regulations and/or gaps in compliance/enforcement,” investigators wrote. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance for cannabis retailers to help inform regulatory and enforcement efforts in the future.
Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, commented on the results of the study, first emphasizing that “Regulation works.”
Armentano stated in a NORML post that while illicit marijuana providers do not ask or verify for identification, licensed businesses will. The real world experience of states with legalizing marijuana shows that such policies are feasible.
These numbers match previous research. One 2022 study that focused on the California Market found that the dispensaries adhered to ID policies at a high level, with 100% compliance among randomly chosen retailers.
It appears that recreational marijuana shops in California are not selling to minors. Authors speculate that this could be because recreational marijuana outlets owners and managers are motivated to keep them open for illegal activities.
The study suggested further research and that cannabis enforcement agencies investigate whether patrons under the age of 18 attempt to access cannabis shops with fake IDs or if they are purchasing cannabis illegally from other sources.
In August 2022, the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division issued a bulletin indicating that of the more than 190 compliance tests involving underage operatives in Colorado, only four states made sales to these individuals. This demonstrates a 98% compliance ratio.
High Times first published the post Study in Five U.S. Cities: Dispensaries Striitly Enforce ID verification Laws.