Study population
Thirty-two participants agreed to participate in the study: 12 non-users, 10 occasional users, and 10 regular users. More than half of the participants were women (53.1%) and more than two thirds were aged between 18 and 20 years old (68.7%). Nearly half (43.8%) of the participants were non-Hispanic white. Most of the participants were undergraduates (93.8%) and U.S.-born (90.6%).
Four themes emerged during the data analysis: “sort of legal”, “mitigating harm through legalization,” “cannabis use… less risky and more accepted,” and “seeking safety.”
"Sort of legal"
Participants were aware of changes in Nevada’s cannabis laws, but the depth of their knowledge varied significantly, and the majority of participants had limited knowledge of regulations. For example, participants were not familiar with regulations regarding the legal amount of cannabis one could possess. If participants were familiar with specific aspects of recreational cannabis legalization, they were only vaguely aware of the details of the law.
"Not tons...I mean...I know that like recreationally you can have it over the age of 21...and... there's a certain amount that you are able to have. I don't know the number..."
(Olivia, regular user, focus group discussion [FGD] 5)
Participants perceived recreational cannabis use as "sort of legal" (Monica, occasional user, FGD1) due to the conflict between state and federal law, as well as the restricted legal age of use (21+) and Nevada’s only legal place of use (private homes only).
Some participants made comparisons to how other legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco are regulated to understand how cannabis is regulated. These comparisons focused on the legal place of use and the consequences of driving when using cannabis.
"Then, you can consume it [cannabis] in private but not in public...like with alcohol...you're not able to do in the street".
(Robert, occasional user, FGD1)
"So, you can't smoke and drive cause they're going treat it like DUI [driving under the influence] like alcohol".
(Dom, occasional user, FGD 4)
Mitigating harm through legalization: Regular and occasional cannabis users had positive perceptions of legalization. They perceived legal recreational cannabis as a source of beneficial tax revenue because “it gives a lot of good things for our community" (Ben, regular user, FGD 8). Some users also perceived recreational cannabis legalization as a step towards decreasing use of other drugs and encouraging less risky cannabis use. Participants understood “less risky” cannabis use as avoiding the legal consequences of cannabis use, as well as having better control over their own use and using the products responsibly.
“I am supporter of the legalization because I think it's very similar to...alcohol in that...it's safe when used responsibly... I grew up in Virginia where it was really super illegal and...it was like a felony... the consequences for getting caught with marijuana were really… really great. I think that it was kind of disproportionate consequence for the action. So, I am definitely supportive of the legalization.”
(Sally, occasional user, FGD 7)
While occasional and regular users widely approved of recreational cannabis legalization, nonusers were ambivalent. The majority of nonusers considered legal cannabis use as “safer” than illegal use and related recreational cannabis legalization to avoiding drug dealers and thus exposure to other illegal substances in the black market.
“My viewpoint on it being recreational is a little bit safer than when it was illegal...just because the main argument against cannabis is…it was a gateway. (…) if their [cannabis users’] dealers didn't have weed, they offer them something stronger and... That’s how you get the gateway thing because of lack of availability of legal cannabis.”
(Ingrid, nonuser, FGD2)
Participants also understood that using cannabis post-legalization was “safer” because the risk of arrest had decreased, leading to fewer negative repercussions for users. Some nonusers also reported taxation as a positive aspect of recreational cannabis legalization.
"One of the benefits -- we can now tax marijuana. It can probably help. Crime rates have gone down. We have fewer kids getting arrested (...) I do think it can be safer in a way to legalize it."
(Maya, nonuser, FGD6)
Nevertheless, a few of nonusers disapproved of legalization and perceived strict cannabis regulations as effective measures to reduce use.
"I mean...just because it [cannabis] is a plant...it doesn't mean it's good. Individuals can be stupid. So, sometimes the government has to step in for the best of the population and say, "No don't do this!"
(James, nonuser, FGD6)
Cannabis use…more accepted and less risky: Participants agreed that recreational cannabis legalization has loosened community norms concerning cannabis use, especially among young people. Participants also described less negative social pressure concerning cannabis use from their families post-legalization, reflected in increased acceptability of cannabis use.
"Definitely with family...like when we get in a family gathering or something like that...it's much more a topic of conversations...kinda like a joke…(…) It's not a super taboo thing either."
(Ben, regular user, FGD 8)
Some participants perceived that cannabis products were more accessible and available post-legalization, especially edible cannabis products.
"I think I consume more [cannabis] now that it's available because I had really stopped smoking completely before that. But, I think a lot of it, it has to do with just I don't enjoy smoking...and now edibles are available I guess."
(Sally, occasional user, FGD 7)
While some regular and occasional users mentioned that they noticed an increase in their cannabis use after legalization, others did not believe that their use was affected by the change.
"I mean, I've only been like recreationally using it the past two years. So, I am not really...I am not super experiencing it...But, I don't think I changed the way I used it or how accessible... I think it is pretty much the same."
(Imani, occasional user, FGD 5)
Most nonusers mentioned that their behaviors related to cannabis have not changed since legalization, as cannabis use is not appealing. However, a few of nonusers mentioned that legalization has removed a barrier to cannabis use.
"I think with this new reality when if I turn 21 and someone like...gives me cocaine or heroin. I would just "No! cause it's ... illegal". But since cannabis is legal I might not reject trying it if it was legal for me to do so."
(Taylor, nonuser, FGD 6)
Seeking safety: Whether from dispensaries or dealers, cannabis users stressed the importance of safety and purchasing from “trustworthy” sources. Participants framed “trustworthy sources” as people they knew, including family members and friends.
"I always had friends that I trusted enough that they wouldn't try to slip anything or mix with anything. So, it always has been like trusting the people you get it from."
(Olivia, regular user, FGD5)
Other participants aged under 21 years old described using social media, such as Snapchat, to purchase cannabis. Participants described Snapchat as a private and convenient way to purchase cannabis.
“I mean if you're younger...definitely safer to Snap...with your parents...definitely safer to Snapchat someone. They don't know what you said...they don't go all the way vs. your text messages or ongoing talking codes or something… “
(Sarah, regular user, FGD8)
Participants related safety not only to the trustworthy sources but also to the ability to recognize the cannabis products’ quality. Most of the participants related the quality of cannabis products to not being mixed with other, unwanted drugs.
“I feel that I can definitely recognize if someone laced my weed if I didn't know what I was smoking”.
(Ben, regular user, FGD 8)
Despite users’ confidence in their “trustworthy” sources, most users and nonusers perceived the dispensary as the safest and the most reliable place to purchase cannabis products.
“I think I just want...in my mind, it [a dispensary product] is safer...and I know what kind it is. I know exactly where I am getting it from versus like so-and-so in the back yard "here you go".
(Sarah, regular user, FGD8)
These perceptions were grounded in different explanations. Participants described how the dispensary was regulated by the State, how it offers legitimate products, and how cannabis packaging was a reliable source of information about the products’ components.
“Definitely dispensary...It's much nicer to be able to choose what you want and have it like controlled and regulated...I think.”
(Sally, occasional user, FGD 7)
“(…) cause like from a previous experience, my friend has bought some edibles from there [the dispensary] ...and they're just... really strong and legit...I would believe the dispensary”
(Dom, occasional user, FGD 4)
In addition to safety, participants mentioned another advantage of using the dispensary compared to other purchase methods: accessing a variety of products and being able to choose. Several participants mentioned that dealers’ variety of products is limited, but dispensaries were reliable sources of a wide range of products.
“So, I don't know...just like it's hard because you get to pick and choose...and you can be picky at the club [the dispensary]. But, you go to the street and you're like ‘I don't get wide variety, but I get cheap and good stuff’”.
(Chole, regular user, FGD5)
However, some participants found that high cost and the age restriction were the main facilitators to continued use of the black market to purchase cannabis in Nevada. While a few users under 21 years old described purchasing dispensary products through friends or family who could legally access the dispensary, none personally accessed a dispensary. One participant described using a dispensary to purchase cannabis, but her access was legal because she had a medical cannabis card.
"Since none of us can buy it from the dispensary we just like obviously buy it from dealers...but, I mean most of the time I would never buy it from a dispensary if I have the choice...just because you can get it for so much cheaper... "
(José, occasional user, FGD4)
Participants related the high costs of the dispensary products to taxation. Some users mentioned that their purchase habits are primarily driven by the cannabis prices.
"My opinion... the dispensary was...it was like very systematic...very friendly. But, they were only able to be paid with cash.... kinda throw me off… the prices...were definitely very higher...probably for like tax reasons."
(Soran, occasional user, FGD7)