Harm reduction perceptions among budtenders & young adults in a mock dispensary environment

As of 2024, there were approximately 15,000 cannabis dispensaries across the U.S. Recreational cannabis alone amassed 32 billion dollars in sales in 2024, indicating a demand for cannabis from retail outlets. High frequency of use, however, is associated with adverse physical, mental, and interpersonal consequences. Behaviors that may reduce one’s experience of cannabis related consequences, or protective behavioral strategies, are harm reduction techniques that are used before, after, or during use. Although consumers often seek and receive advice from cannabis dispensary staff during visits to dispensaries, it is unclear which, or if, staff present customers with harm reduction strategies in these retail cannabis environments. Methods: In this mixed methods study, we investigated harm reduction messages and strategies that retail dispensary staff (e.g., “budtenders”) report presenting to customers during their interactions. Twenty budtenders and 60 young adult cannabis users (Ages 21–30) participated separately in semi-structured interviews in a mock dispensary environment. Using thematic analysis and survey data, harm reduction themes relating to sales methodology, advice about use behavior, and establishing budtender-customer relationships emerged among the budtenders. Young adult interviews revealed themes related to avoiding specific products, limiting overconsumption, and prioritizing purchases associated with positive use experiences. Conclusions: These results can help researchers and policymakers better understand harm reduction messaging within retail cannabis environments. Doing so can help address potential misinformation related to harm reduction and identify content areas for future trainings and science-based educational materials to help consumers implement harm reduction strategies that will work best for them if choosing to use cannabis.