Researchers worked with actors trained to appear intoxicated while seemingly attempting to buy cannabis. The actors swayed, stumbled, and slurred their speech, among other behaviors identified by Oregon regulators in a mandatory training manual for cannabis sellers. The actors and observers visited 173 stores twice each, for a total of 346 visits.
In three out of four visits (74%), sellers were willing to serve “intoxicated” customers. Only 12 stores (7%) refused to sell the cannabis product on both visits; 67 stores (39%) refused at one visit. In 10% of cases, the sellers indicated reluctance—and in 2% of visits joked or made a similar remark about the customer’s behavior—but were willing to sell the cannabis anyway. Compliance with the law was highest when “buyers” presented overt intoxication behaviors in stores that displayed signage saying no sales to intoxicated customers. Other factors, such as store busyness and personal and neighborhood demographics, were not relevant, except that women sellers were less likely than men to refuse sales to people who seemed moderately (rather than severely) intoxicated. Compliance had risen since previous studies in 2016 and 2018. The findings nevertheless demonstrate cannabis sellers’ ongoing willingness to serve people apparently at risk for polysubstance impairment.
The study suggests that signage about this policy—a low-cost intervention—and management support may help sellers comply. The researchers also recommend comprehensive training requirements and certification of sellers, strategies that have proven successful in the alcohol market.
Noncompliance with laws to prevent polysubstance misuse: Recreational cannabis sales to apparently alcohol-intoxicated customers. W. G. Woodall, D. Buller, R. Saltz, J. C. Fell, L. Martinez, A. N. Brice, N. Chirico, G. R. Cutter.
ACER-25-6515.R2