Potential Areas of Concern with Marijuana Hospitality Establishments in Denver and DPS Youth
Proximity to Youth Serving Organizations
Research shows that regulating the number of businesses in a given area that can sell age restricted products (e.g. marijuana, tobacco and alcohol) is part of an effective strategy to prevent youth misuse. The location, density, and type of marijuana retailers in a community affect youth misuse rates and contribute to structural health inequities.
Prohibit marijuana hospitality establishments near schools and other youth-sensitive areas, at least 1,000 ft away.
Require a minimum distance between hospitality establishments. There should be a 1,500 foot or more buffer between Hospitality & Sales Businesses and Retail Marijuana Stores/Medical Marijuana Centers.
Density of Marijuana Hospitality Establishments
An area of concern in the Denver marijuana hospitality ordinance draft relates to marijuana business density; specifically, the removal of the current density cap except in the five most saturated neighborhoods. To roll back the location cap as proposed would likely increase access to and availability of marijuana for our youth.
Marijuana dispensary density has been linked to increased youth use —with 16% of 11th graders reporting marijuana use in areas with less dispensary density compared to 24.3% of the same age group reporting use in more retail-dense areas[1].
A recent study indicates that higher marijuana dispensary density in states with legal cannabis laws was associated with a higher likelihood of youth ages 14-18 experimenting with cannabis vaping and edibles[2]. Regulating the density of age-restricted businesses can significantly impact public health in a positive way.
It is important to create regulation that will not allow for an excess of marijuana hospitality establishments in vulnerable communities.
Historically, a lack of regulation has led to oversaturation of tobacco and alcohol outlets in underserved neighborhoods, and has contributed to structural inequities. It is vital that we learn from these mistakes and “get it right from the start” with marijuana regulation to protect our youth.
Advertising
Best practice for protecting youth is a comprehensive ban on advertising, including branded merchandise and sponsorships to truly minimize harms for youth, including youth normalization of marijuana in Denver.
Maintaining or strengthening the advertising restrictions currently in the Denver marijuana hospitality establishment draft ordinance is crucial to protect youth in Denver.
Decades of research related to age-restricted products, including tobacco and alcohol, demonstrates that exposure to advertising and promotion of age restricted products is associated with decreased perceptions of risk and increased use among young people[1],[2],[3],[4].
Washington state research indicates that regular exposure to marijuana advertising on storefronts, billboards, retailer websites, swag, and other locations increased the likelihood of adolescents using marijuana[5].
[1] Hatch, A. (2017, April 14). Researchers tracking public health impacts of marijuana legalization. Washington State University. https://nursing.wsu.edu/2017/04/14/13255v
[2] Borodovsky JT, Lee DC, Crosier BS, Gabrielli JL, Sargent JD, Budney AJ. (2017). U.S. cannabis legalization and use of vaping and edible products among youth. Drug Alcohol Depend. 0(0). doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.02.017.
[3] P. Anderson, A. de Bruijn, K. Angus, R. Gordon, G. Hastings. Impact of alcohol advertising and media exposure on adolescent alcohol use: a systematic review of longitudinal studies, Alcohol., 44 (2009), pp. 229-243
[4] W.S. Choi, J.S. Ahluwalia, K.J. Harris, K. Okuyemi Progression to established smoking: the influence of tobacco marketing
[4] K. Davis, E. Gilpin, B. Loken, K. Viswanath, M.Wakefield. Themes And Targets Of Tobacco Advertising And Promotion. Tobacco Control Monograph Series 19: The Role of the Media in Promoting and Reducing Use
(2008), pp. 141-178
[5] R. Gordon, A.M. MacKintosh, C. Moodie. The impact of alcohol marketing on youth drinking behaviour: a two-stage cohort study. Alcohol., 45 (2010), pp. 470-480
[6] Stacey J.T. Hust, Jessica Fitts Willoughby, Jiayu Li, Leticia Couto. Youth’s Proximity to Marijuana Retailers and Advertisements: Factors Associated with Washington State Adolescents’ Intentions to Use Marijuana. Journal of Health Communication, 2020.