Understanding the knowledge gap in parents’ and teens’ perceptions of cannabis laws

As recreational cannabis becomes legalized, parents and teens may keep up with these changing laws differently, resulting in knowledge gaps in their understanding of this topic. This study aimed to explore parents’ and teens’ knowledge of cannabis legalization in Massachusetts when the law was being implemented in 2018. Interviews were conducted with 42 parents and teens (08/2018-07/2019) to assess their knowledge of cannabis laws, teens’ access to cannabis, and popular ways teens use cannabis. Data were coded and analyzed using deductive content analysis on NVivo. The codebook was extrapolated from the interview guide and themes were derived and grouped by key factors. Parents’ mean age was 49.6 years, and 81% were female. Teens’ mean age was 14.9 years, and 52.4% were female. No differences were found in the key factors across the derived themes. There was ambiguity surrounding parents’ and teens’ knowledge of cannabis laws, parents expressed concerns about legalization and teens’ access to cannabis, and there were differing perceptions of popular ways teens use cannabis. Study limitations to consider include a majority female sample of parents and the exclusion of non-English-speaking participants. The findings highlight the need for enhanced public health education to improve parents’ and teens’ understanding of cannabis laws.