Survey: Government Least Likely to Be Source of Information on Cannabis

Government sources are the least likely sources utilized by individuals when seeking information about cannabis, according to a study published this month in the Journal of Cannabis Research. The researchers found just 4.7% of survey respondents used government resources for cannabis information.  

The survey included 1,161 respondents, of which 27% reported consuming cannabis in the past year. Friends and family were the most common information sources for those surveyed (35.6%) followed by websites (33.7%). Healthcare providers were utilized for cannabis information by 9.3% of respondents – but 16.4% of those surveyed who were registered medical cannabis patients said they obtained their information from a healthcare provider – while dispensary employees were the source of information about cannabis by 8.6% of respondents.   

“As cannabis accessibility increases and legality continues changing, there is a strong need for better clinician education, improved public health outreach, and improved communication between patients and clinicians about cannabis.” — “Cannabis-related information sources among US residents: A probability-weighted nationally representative survey,” Journal of Cannabis Research, 10/1/24 

The survey included adults 18 and older. Gender demographics among the survey-takers were nearly even, with 51% identifying as female and 49% identifying as male. The researchers note that “past year cannabis use was positively associated with all information sources except government agencies and popular media articles.”