Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40611026›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Perceptions of cannabis warnings and recommendations for improvement: a qualitative study with people who use cannabis from the United States.

Leah M Ranney, Sonia A Clark, Caroline J Meek, Kristen L Jarman, Sarah D Kowitt

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Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Leah M RanneyDepartment of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 590 Manning Dr. CB 7595, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA. Leah_ranney@unc.edu.
Sonia A ClarkLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
Caroline J MeekDepartment of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
Kristen L JarmanDepartment of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 590 Manning Dr. CB 7595, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
Sarah D KowittDepartment of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 590 Manning Dr. CB 7595, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMost states with legalized cannabis require warnings, but current cannabis warnings are unnoticed, difficult to read, and confusing. There is limited cannabis-specific research on which warning characteristics (e.g., size, content) effectively communicate the risks of cannabis use. This research explores perceptions of cannabis warning labels from a qualitative perspective.

methodsWe conducted six virtual focus groups (n = 36 participants) in March and April 2023 with U.S. adults (21+) who reported using cannabis in the past 30 days and resided in a state with legalized recreational cannabis. After exploring risk perceptions of cannabis products, participants were shown existing warnings on cannabis packages from states that have legalized cannabis and novel warnings on cannabis packages created by the study team and asked about cognitive and affective reactions. The resulting audio recordings were transcribed, and ATLAS.ti was used to perform thematic data analysis.

resultsHalf of the participants identified as White, 22% as Black or African American, and 28% as another race. Participants' mean age was 30.5 years, and, on average, participants reported using cannabis 3.7 of the past 7 days. Themes that emerged from the data were that participants perceived the purpose of warnings as accurately educating or promoting safe use: "I would say to inform people of the health risk so they can make an educated decision." Participants did not notice existing warnings and wanted warnings to capture attention: "I've never noticed one […]" and "I would want some kind of a warning icon or symbol […]." Finally, participants were aware of both the benefits and risks of using cannabis: "I smoke for my anxiety" and "[…] I'll get some sort of like paranoia."

conclusionsOur findings highlight areas for cannabis warning improvement, particularly with the warning content, design, and placement. Cannabis warnings that inform, educate, and guide less risky use may be well-received by people who use cannabis. More research is needed on the health effects of cannabis use to aid in the development of evidence-based cannabis warnings, particularly around mental health concerns.

Indexed as

CannabisDrug LabelingHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeAdultFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchUnited StatesYoung AdultAdultsCannabis warningsHealth warning labelsQualitative research

Identifiers

PMID40611026
PMCPMC12225255

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.