Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42224931›Full record

ArticleDrug and alcohol dependence2026

Mystery shopper assessments of cannabis retailer practices and regulatory compliance in five U.S. states, 2025.

Carla J Berg, Cassidy R LoParco, Matthew E Rossheim, Darcey M McCready, Lauren Langan, Elizabeth Platt, Katelyn F Romm, Miranda Johnson, Morgan B Speer, Scott Burris and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Drug and alcohol dependence, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

11 authors.

Carla J BergDepartment of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA; George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: carlaberg@gwu.edu.
Cassidy R LoParcoDepartment of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Matthew E RossheimDepartment of Health Administration and Health Policy, College of Public Health, The University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Darcey M McCreadyDepartment of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Lauren LanganCenter for Public Health Law Research, Beasley School of Law, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Elizabeth PlattCenter for Public Health Law Research, Beasley School of Law, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Katelyn F RommTSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
Miranda JohnsonDepartment of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Morgan B SpeerDepartment of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Scott BurrisCenter for Public Health Law Research, Beasley School of Law, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Patricia A Cavazos-RehgDepartment of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Funding

Recreational Marijuana Marketing and Young Adult Consumer Behavior - Administrative SupplementR01DA054751 · NIDA · GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI Carla J Berg, Patricia A Cavazos-Rehg · 2022 to 2026
$4.3M
NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA054751
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study used mystery shoppers to assess cannabis retail practices in 5 US states regulating legal nonmedical cannabis retail.

methodsThis mystery shopper study assessed 130 cannabis retailers in 5 cities (Los Angeles [LA], California; Las Vegas [LV], Nevada; Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington) in summer 2025. Researchers recorded: 1) age verification; and 2) retail staff responses to inquiries about: a) use for anxiety, sleep, pregnancy-related nausea, etc.; b) use-related risks/cautions; c) interstate cannabis transport; and d) availability of derived intoxicating cannabis products (DICPs) and 'mushrooms' (psilocybin).

resultsMystery shoppers were asked for ID at 87.7% of retailers. When asked, most (>88%) retail staff responded that cannabis helps with anxiety and insomnia. While 40.8% warned against use for pregnancy-related nausea, 36.2% suggested it helps and 24.6% said it depends on the person/situation. Over half (58.5%) warned against driving post-use, but 50.0% said it depends (on person/situation). When asked about interstate transport, several indicated not to (42.3%) and/or it was illegal (39.2%); however, 44.6% indicated ways to pack cannabis to be undetectable, and 27.7% said not to worry about getting caught. Retail staff generally indicated DICPs are not as safe as delta-9 THC (27.7%) or are illegal (20.0%). The majority said mushrooms were illegal (67.7%), but 53.8% indicated they were easy to obtain, and 29.2% suggested their mental health benefits.

conclusionsCannabis retailer frequently made prohibited health claims and minimized risks, reinforcing public health concerns and the need for ongoing cannabis retail surveillance and stronger regulatory oversight and enforcement.

Indexed as

CannabisCommerceMarijuana UseHumansUnited StatesCannabis policyDrug useHealth communicationMarijuana dispensariesMarketingΔ9-THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol)

Identifiers

PMID42224931
PMCPMC13311656

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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 Socratic graph.