Self-reported Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cannabis Use in Canada and the United States.

The current study examined the self-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cannabis consumption and behaviors among past 12-month cannabis consumers in Canada and the U.S. across different cannabis laws. Cross-sectional survey data were collected in 2020 from respondents recruited through online commercial panels, aged 16-65, who consumed cannabis in the past 12 months (n = 13,689). Weighted multinomial logistic regression models examined differences between jurisdictions for five outcomes: 1) cannabis consumption; 2) use of product types; 3) use of sources to obtain cannabis; 4) legality of source used; and 5) access to cannabis. Approximately one third of cannabis consumers reported changes to their consumption during the pandemic. Edibles (23% - 31%) and dried flower (21% - 30%) were the two most common products that respondents reported they were "more likely" to use during the pandemic. Most consumers reported "no difference" to changes in sourcing cannabis. Compared to consumers in U.S. recreational states, consumers in U.S. medical (AOR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.50) and illegal states (AOR = 1.22, CI: 1.00,1.48) had higher odds of reporting it was "harder" to access cannabis, and consumers in Canada had lower odds (AOR = 0.73, CI: 0.63,0.84). Future research should examine whether these changes remain after public health restrictions due to the pandemic are removed.