Pre- and Post-recreational Cannabis Legislation: Snapshot of Postsecondary Student Cannabis Use in Manitoba, Canada

Abstract

The investigation of evolving cannabis use trends among emerging adults in the wake of 2018 Canadian Recreational Cannabis Legislation (RCL) is vital, as this demographic is particularly vulnerable to the development of problematic cannabis use, among other risk-taking behaviours. This study is one of the first to present post-RCL data, offering valuable insight into post-RCL cannabis use among Canadian postsecondary students. Objectives: This article compares self-reported pre- and post-RCL cannabis use, and anticipated use post-RCL, by students in a university in Manitoba, Canada. Methods: A self-report survey was administered during class time to 3 distinct student cohorts: pre-RCL, 1 month post-RCL, and 4 months post-RCL. In total, 951 students between 18 and 24 years of age participated. Sociodemographic and cannabis use variables were analyzed, and proportions are described. Results: RCL was found to have little effect on cannabis use among postsecondary students. 2019 data reflects slightly lower-than-2012 cannabis use prevalence, after having peaked shortly after RCL enactment in late-2018. Prevalence of cannabis use increased slightly only among former users. Few use cannabis for medical purposes only. Conclusions: This study corroborates previous international and trans-jurisdictional findings, suggesting RCL may have little to no effect on actual cannabis use among postsecondary students. These findings may reflect general ineffectiveness of prohibitive cannabis legislation among emerging adults. They also suggest initiatives surrounding RCL awareness undertaken by Canadian healthcare and government bodies may have been effective in mitigating post-RCL use. Continued promotion of risks associated with cannabis use is needed on Canadian campuses. L’enquête sur l’évolution des tendances de la consommation de cannabis chez les adultes émergents à la suite de la législation canadienne sur le cannabis récréatif (LCR) de 2018 est vitale, car ce groupe démographique est particulièrement vulnérable au développement d’une consommation problématique de cannabis, entre autres comportements à risque. Cette étude est l’une des premières à présenter des données post-LCR, offrant un aperçu précieux de la consommation de cannabis post-LCR chez les étudiants canadiens de niveau post-secondaire. Objectifs: Cet article compare la consommation de cannabis auto-déclarée avant et après la LCR et la consommation anticipée après la LCR par des étudiants d’une université du Manitoba, au Canada. Méthodes: Une enquête d’auto-évaluation a été administrée pendant les heures de classe à trois cohortes d’élèves distinctes: avant la LCR, un mois après la LCR et quatre mois après la LCR. Au total, 951 élèves âgés de 18 à 24 ans y ont participé. Les variables sociodémographiques et de consommation de cannabis ont été analysées et les proportions sont décrites. Résultats: La LCR a peu d’effet sur la consommation de cannabis chez les étudiants de niveau post-secondaire. Les données de 2019 reflètent une prévalence de la consommation de cannabis légèrement inférieure à celle de 2012, après avoir atteint un sommet peu de temps après la promulgation de la LCR à la fin de 2018. La prévalence de la consommation de cannabis n’a légèrement augmenté que chez les anciens utilisateurs. Rares sont ceux qui utilisent le cannabis à des fins médicales uniquement. Conclusions: Cette étude corrobore les résultats internationaux et trans-juridictionnels antérieurs, suggérant que la LCR pourrait avoir peu ou pas d’effet sur la consommation réelle de cannabis chez les étudiants de niveau postsecondaire. Ces résultats peuvent refléter l’inefficacité générale de la législation prohibitive sur le cannabis chez les adultes émergents. Ils suggèrent également que les initiatives entourant la sensibilisation à la LCR entreprises par les organismes de santé et gouvernementaux canadiens auraient pu être efficaces pour atténuer l’utilisation post-LCR. La promotion continue des risques associés à la consommation de cannabis est nécessaire sur les campus canadiens.

Understanding youth and young adult cannabis use in Canada post-legalization: a scoping review on a public health issue

“…The study also found provincial differences with lower rates in Québec and British Columbia. In contrast, Gueye et al [ 88 ] found that cannabis use levels only increased for young adults aged 18–24 who were using regularly, defined as three times or more in the past month. Nguyen & Mital [ 4 ] examined changes in cannabis use among youth and young adults aged 15–20 in Québec before and after the province increased the minimum legal age (MLA) for cannabis use from 18 to 21 years.…”

“…Across the 47 studies, 21 (44.68%) had participants aged 18 or younger [ 55 , 60 , 62 – 72 , 77 , 78 , 86 , 90 , 92 – 95 ], seven studies (14.89%) had samples of young adults aged 18–29 [ 17 , 20 , 54 , 57 , 61 , 73 , 88 ], and eleven studies (23.40%) included both youth and young adult participants aged 0–29 [ 4 , 15 , 76 , 79 – 82 , 85 , 87 , 89 , 91 ]. The remaining eight studies (17.02%) did not focus specifically on youth or young adults but included subgroups or presented results for younger age groups [ 53 , 56 , 58 , 59 , 74 , 75 , 83 , 84 ].…”

“…Two studies included data from both Canada and the United States [74,75] and one included data from Canada, the United States, and England [76]. The remaining studies gathered data from a single province, with eleven studies in Ontario [77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86]95], four in Québec [4,15,20,87], two in Manitoba [88,89], two in British Columbia [90,91], and one each in Saskatchewan [92], Alberta [93], and Newfoundland and Labrador [94].…”

Substance Use, Addiction and Support Services: Increased Risk and Service Inequity for Official Language Minority Communities in Canada

“…Also, rurality is reported to be a strong predictor of alcohol use for Manitoba’s OLMCs 30,33 . Furthermore, 1 study measured the impact of Canada’s 2018 recreational cannabis legislation on cannabis use among a postsecondary OLMC sample in Manitoba 34 . While this sample’s cannabis use was significantly greater than national averages, permissive legislation had a negligible impact for this population.…”

“…3,4 It is concerning that no literature focusing on OLMC opioid-related trends was found. Likewise, only 2 publications 31,34 mentioned OLMCs' substance use following recreational cannabis legislation, and none pertained to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as compared with other Canadian and international populations. 1,2 Given this paucity of publications and rapidly evolving public health concerns, targeted research on substance use and addiction among OLMCs is warranted.…”