Predictors of Change in Cannabis Use Status from Pre- to Post-Recreational Cannabis Legalization in Canada: Evidence from a Two-Wave Longitudinal National Survey

Objective: In October 2018, the Government of Canada legalized cannabis for recreational use nationwide. The effects of legalization on cannabis use have been primarily assessed through cross-sectional surveys.

Method: In the present study, a two-wave longitudinal design was used to explore potential demographic, substance use and behavioral addiction, and mental health predictors of change in cannabis use status following legalization. Canadian online panelists (18+) were initially surveyed about their gambling and substance use in 2018 (i.e., before cannabis legalization). From the original sample, 4,707 (46.2%) were retained in the follow-up survey one year later, post-cannabis legalization. These respondents were the focus of the present study.

Results: When queried about how legalization would impact their use, 61.8% said, 'I'll never use it', 21.1% stated "I'll use it about the same as I do now," 10.3% indicated, "I may try it for the first time," 5.0% answered, "I'll use it more," and 1.9% responded that, "I'll use it less." Consistent with these sentiments, within the retained sample there was a modest but significant increase in cannabis use from baseline (18.4%) to follow-up (26.1%). Regressions established that younger age, being male, substance use, tobacco or e-cigarette use, problematic gambling, and stated intention to use cannabis were predictors of later cannabis use.

Conclusions: This national cohort design indicates that cannabis use appears to have increased in Canada following legalization. The present study makes a unique contribution by also identifying variables that statistically forecast movement toward and away from cannabis use.