The purpose of this study is to compare a delayed-effects warning to an expanded warning developed in previous experiments on knowledge, harm perceptions, and willingness to try cannabis edibles. Additionally, this study will examine the effects of a corresponding icon on attention to and recall of the warning.
Cannabis edibles are rapidly leading the legal recreational cannabis market. The Cannabis edibles present health harms that are not typical of smoked marijuana, including accidental overconsumption of high levels of THC. One effective way to communicate proper dosing and risks of overconsumptions is through package warnings. This experiment will assign participants to view real cannabis edibles packaging with one of four variations of warnings and a series of questions to assess knowledge, harm perceptions, and willingness to try the product shown. One group of participants will serve as the control and will see the same cannabis edibles packaging without a warning.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
1,250
Participants in the control condition will see an edible cannabis package without a warning message.
Participants will see a cannabis edibles package with a warning message containing a delayed effects message.
Participants will see a cannabis edibles package with a warning containing a delayed effects message and a corresponding icon.
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Product appeal score
One item to assess the appeal of the product. Results will be reported as means. Question: How appealing is this edible to you? Response options: (0) Not at all appealing to (10) Very appealing. Higher score denoting more appeal
Time frame: Minute 1
Perception of product safety score
One item to assess the participants' perception of the safety of the product. Results will be presented as the frequency of each type of response. Question: How safe do you think it would be to eat this edible? Response options: (1) Not at all safe, (2) Slightly safe, (3) Somewhat safe, (4) Moderately safe, (5) Very safe. Higher score denoting more safe to eat
Time frame: Minute 1
Perceived likelihood of experiencing unwanted effects score
One item to assess the participants' perception of the likelihood of experiencing unwanted effects. Results will be presented as the frequency of each type of response. Question: How likely are you to experience unwanted effects if you eat this edible? Response options: (1) Not at all likely, (2) Slightly likely, (3) Somewhat likely, (4) Moderately likely, (5) Very likely. Higher score denoting greater likelihood of experiencing side effects
Time frame: Minute 1
Interest in a free sample score
One item to assess how interested a participant would be in a free sample of the product. Results will be presented as the frequency of each type of response. Question: How interested would you be in a free sample of this edible? Response options: (1) Not at all interested, (2) Slightly interested, (3) Somewhat interested, (4) Moderately interested, (5) Very interested. Higher score denoting more interest
Time frame: Minute 1
Concern about the risks of overconsumption due to warning score
One item to assess how much the warning makes the participant concerned about the risks of overconsumption for participants randomized to view a package with a warning (intervention conditions only). Results will be presented as the frequency of each type of response. Question: How much does this warning make you concerned about potential risks from eating too much of this edible? Response options: (1) Not at all, (2) A little, (3) Somewhat, (4) Quite a bit, (5) A great deal. Higher score denotes more concern
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Participants will view a cannabis edibles package with a warning containing delayed effects message and dosing instructions.
Participants will view a cannabis edibles package with a warning containing delayed effects, dosing instructions, and adverse effects message.
Time frame: Minute 1
Improved understanding of safe consumption due to warning score
One item to assess how much the warning gives the participant a better understanding of how to safely consume an edible (intervention conditions only). Results will be presented as the frequency of each type of response. Question: How much does this warning give you a better understanding of how to safely consume this edible? Response options: (1) Not at all, (2) a little, (3) somewhat, (4) quite a bit, (5) a great deal. Higher score denotes better understanding of safety
Time frame: Minute 1
Warning recall
One item to assess the participant's recall of a warning message on the package. Results will be presented as the percentage correctly selected. Question: Do you recall seeing a warning on the package we showed you earlier? Response Options: Yes, No
Time frame: Minute 1
Attention Score
One measure to assess the extent to which the warning grabbed the participant's attention. Asked of those who recall seeing a warning on the package. Results will be presented as frequency of each type of response. Question: How much did the warning grab your attention? Response options: (0) Not at all, (1) A little, (3) Somewhat, (4) A lot, Higher score denotes more attention
Time frame: Minute 1