Cannabis retail environment and treatment for cannabis use disorder

Jeremy Mennis; J. Douglas Coatsworth; Nikola Zaharakis; Nathaniel R. Riggs; Aaron Brown; Michael Russell; Michael J. Mason

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113096

Cannabis retail environment and treatment for cannabis use disorder

Jeremy Mennis
, J. Douglas Coatsworth
, Nikola Zaharakis
, Nathaniel R. Riggs
, Aaron Brown
, Michael Russell
, Michael J. Mason

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

PurposeThis research investigates whether the efficacy of a digital cannabis use disorder (CUD) treatment for young adults (age 18–25) differs by exposure to cannabis retailers in the residential neighborhood and activity space (significant places visited throughout daily life).MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial of the digital substance use disorder treatment Peer Network Counseling-txt (PNC-txt) for reducing cannabis use among young adults with CUD (n = 425). We hypothesize that the indirect effect of treatment on reducing cannabis use via the mediating mechanism readiness-to-change is moderated by exposure to cannabis retailers, due to the stronger effect of readiness-to-change on reducing cannabis use at lower levels of exposure.ResultsThe indirect effect of PNC-txt on reducing cannabis use is significantly moderated by activity space exposure to cannabis retailers (β=0.104, 95 % CI: 0.010, 0.197), where the treatment effect is more than three times as strong at low, as compared to high, levels of exposure. We did not find significant moderating effects by residential exposure (β=0.059, 95 % CI: −0.020, 0.137).ConclusionsFindings indicate that greater exposure to cannabis retailers in a young adult’s activity space is associated with reduced CUD treatment efficacy. This is likely due to easier access to cannabis, more tolerant cannabis attitudes, and environmental cues which can trigger craving among those with CUD. Regulations regarding locations and density of cannabis retailers may contribute to better CUD treatment outcomes.

Original language	English
Article number	113096
Journal	Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume	282
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113096
State	Published - May 1 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 5R01DA044206 (PIs M.J. Mason and J.D. Coatsworth) and by the National Science Foundation under Award Number 2445784 (PI J. Mennis). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or National Science Foundation. Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 5R01DA044206 (PIs M.J. Mason and J.D. Coatsworth) and by the National Science Foundation under Award Number 2445784 (PI J. Mennis). Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 5R01DA044206 (PIs M.J. Mason and J.D. Coatsworth) and by the National Science Foundation under Award Number 2445784 (PI J. Mennis).

Funders	Funder number
Author National Institute on Drug Abuse DA031791 Mark J Ferris National Institute on Drug Abuse DA006634 Mark J Ferris National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism AA026117 Mark J Ferris National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism AA028162 Elizabeth G Pitts National Institute of General Medical Sciences GM102773 Elizabeth G Pitts Peter McManus Charitable Trust Mark J Ferris National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health (NIH)	5R01DA044206
National Science Foundation Arctic Social Science Program	2445784

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Cannabis
Cannabis use disorder
Digital treatment
Geospatial
Legalization
Retailer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Toxicology
Pharmacology
Psychiatry and Mental health
Pharmacology (medical)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113096

Cite this

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title = "Cannabis retail environment and treatment for cannabis use disorder",

abstract = "PurposeThis research investigates whether the efficacy of a digital cannabis use disorder (CUD) treatment for young adults (age 18{\textendash}25) differs by exposure to cannabis retailers in the residential neighborhood and activity space (significant places visited throughout daily life).MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial of the digital substance use disorder treatment Peer Network Counseling-txt (PNC-txt) for reducing cannabis use among young adults with CUD (n = 425). We hypothesize that the indirect effect of treatment on reducing cannabis use via the mediating mechanism readiness-to-change is moderated by exposure to cannabis retailers, due to the stronger effect of readiness-to-change on reducing cannabis use at lower levels of exposure.ResultsThe indirect effect of PNC-txt on reducing cannabis use is significantly moderated by activity space exposure to cannabis retailers (β=0.104, 95 \% CI: 0.010, 0.197), where the treatment effect is more than three times as strong at low, as compared to high, levels of exposure. We did not find significant moderating effects by residential exposure (β=0.059, 95 \% CI: −0.020, 0.137).ConclusionsFindings indicate that greater exposure to cannabis retailers in a young adult{\textquoteright}s activity space is associated with reduced CUD treatment efficacy. This is likely due to easier access to cannabis, more tolerant cannabis attitudes, and environmental cues which can trigger craving among those with CUD. Regulations regarding locations and density of cannabis retailers may contribute to better CUD treatment outcomes.",

keywords = "Cannabis, Cannabis use disorder, Digital treatment, Geospatial, Legalization, Retailer",

author = "Jeremy Mennis and Coatsworth, \{J. Douglas\} and Nikola Zaharakis and Riggs, \{Nathaniel R.\} and Aaron Brown and Michael Russell and Mason, \{Michael J.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.",

year = "2026",

month = may,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113096",

language = "English",

volume = "282",

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AU - Mennis, Jeremy

AU - Coatsworth, J. Douglas

AU - Zaharakis, Nikola

AU - Riggs, Nathaniel R.

AU - Brown, Aaron

AU - Russell, Michael

AU - Mason, Michael J.

PY - 2026/5/1

Y1 - 2026/5/1

N2 - PurposeThis research investigates whether the efficacy of a digital cannabis use disorder (CUD) treatment for young adults (age 18–25) differs by exposure to cannabis retailers in the residential neighborhood and activity space (significant places visited throughout daily life).MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial of the digital substance use disorder treatment Peer Network Counseling-txt (PNC-txt) for reducing cannabis use among young adults with CUD (n = 425). We hypothesize that the indirect effect of treatment on reducing cannabis use via the mediating mechanism readiness-to-change is moderated by exposure to cannabis retailers, due to the stronger effect of readiness-to-change on reducing cannabis use at lower levels of exposure.ResultsThe indirect effect of PNC-txt on reducing cannabis use is significantly moderated by activity space exposure to cannabis retailers (β=0.104, 95 % CI: 0.010, 0.197), where the treatment effect is more than three times as strong at low, as compared to high, levels of exposure. We did not find significant moderating effects by residential exposure (β=0.059, 95 % CI: −0.020, 0.137).ConclusionsFindings indicate that greater exposure to cannabis retailers in a young adult’s activity space is associated with reduced CUD treatment efficacy. This is likely due to easier access to cannabis, more tolerant cannabis attitudes, and environmental cues which can trigger craving among those with CUD. Regulations regarding locations and density of cannabis retailers may contribute to better CUD treatment outcomes.

AB - PurposeThis research investigates whether the efficacy of a digital cannabis use disorder (CUD) treatment for young adults (age 18–25) differs by exposure to cannabis retailers in the residential neighborhood and activity space (significant places visited throughout daily life).MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial of the digital substance use disorder treatment Peer Network Counseling-txt (PNC-txt) for reducing cannabis use among young adults with CUD (n = 425). We hypothesize that the indirect effect of treatment on reducing cannabis use via the mediating mechanism readiness-to-change is moderated by exposure to cannabis retailers, due to the stronger effect of readiness-to-change on reducing cannabis use at lower levels of exposure.ResultsThe indirect effect of PNC-txt on reducing cannabis use is significantly moderated by activity space exposure to cannabis retailers (β=0.104, 95 % CI: 0.010, 0.197), where the treatment effect is more than three times as strong at low, as compared to high, levels of exposure. We did not find significant moderating effects by residential exposure (β=0.059, 95 % CI: −0.020, 0.137).ConclusionsFindings indicate that greater exposure to cannabis retailers in a young adult’s activity space is associated with reduced CUD treatment efficacy. This is likely due to easier access to cannabis, more tolerant cannabis attitudes, and environmental cues which can trigger craving among those with CUD. Regulations regarding locations and density of cannabis retailers may contribute to better CUD treatment outcomes.

KW - Cannabis

KW - Cannabis use disorder

KW - Digital treatment

KW - Geospatial

KW - Legalization

KW - Retailer

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ER -

Cannabis retail environment and treatment for cannabis use disorder

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this