A Cannabis Crossroads: The Impact of Risk Interpretation on Cannabis-Related Behaviors Among Canadian Youth

Attitudes toward cannabis in Canada are continually shifting, leaving youth vulnerable as they navigate the pre- to post-legalization context. Using the Youth Risk Interpretation (Y-RIF) conceptual framework, our research aimed to explore youth’s interpretation of cannabis-related risks and gather insight into how this dynamic contextual shift influences their decisions. A qualitative study used a series of virtual focus groups with youth ( N = 38; M = 15) living in urban and rural areas of Newfoundland and Labrador that were facilitated by young adults in 2021. An inductive thematic analysis approach was used to code all transcripts, and the identification of themes was informed by the Y-RIF. Our thematic analysis highlights the multitude of contextual factors (e.g., developmental, social, cultural, neurocognitive, geographical, and structural) that influence youths’ perceptions of cannabis-related risks, which in turn impact their cannabis-related decisions. Youths’ exposure to various circumstances, coupled with their internalization of contextual factors, interplay with cognitive processes, personal preferences, and agency. Consequently, this influenced how youth interpreted the risks associated with cannabis and their behaviors. Understanding youths’ risk perception and underlying factors that contribute to unsafe decisions will inform targeted substance use and mental health literacy efforts for youth.