Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

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Market Revenues and Economic Opportunities in the Legal Cannabis Market in Uruguay
(LSE Press, 2025-08-12) Rychert M; Pardal M; Queirolo R
Background: The regulated cannabis market in Uruguay has received international attention as an alternative to profit-maximising cannabis legalisation models. However, relatively little is known about how this market has been operationalised. The goal of our policy commentary is to identify the key actors with a role in the legal regulated cannabis market, provide estimates of the annual revenues, discuss the existing market opportunities, and consider the implications for the economic aspects of social justice. Methods: Our commentary is informed by a review of key relevant literature and other documentary sources, as well as insights from qualitative fieldwork in Montevideo. Results: Licensed production companies and pharmacies are key for-profit organisations involved in the recreational cannabis market in Uruguay. With prices, products, and market size controlled by the government, the entrepreneurial decisions of licensed producers are limited, resulting in a focus on cost reduction. The production sector is characterised by a small number of companies that operate at economies of scale, illustrating a ‘commoditised’ cannabis market model. The pharmacy-only retail framework has created new revenue for community pharmacists but may hinder the participation of small-scale legacy players. The not-for-profit Cannabis Social Club (CSC) sector has lower entry barriers and fewer requirements regarding products and prices, but only a few key individuals may benefit financially due to the sector non-profit regulation. Estimates of annual revenues in the licensed production (4–4.8 million USD), pharmacy point-of-sale (1.1–2.2 million USD) and CSC sectors (8–17.7 million USD) are provided. Conclusions: Despite not being designed to pursue economic objectives, the state-controlled cannabis market in Uruguay has created commercial opportunities for several actors. Our analysis suggests that this regulation may represent a compromise from an economic and social justice perspective.
A clarion call to the addiction science community: It's time to resist the anti-scientific policies of the US Trump administration
(SAGE Publications Ltd on behalf of the Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues, 2025-04-01) Babor TF; Adinoff B; Clark L; Crockford D; Demetrovics Z; Dietze P; Fallu J-S; Gainsbury S; Gilchrist G; Gorelick DA; Graham K; Heim D; Hellman M; Laslett A-M; McCuistian C; Miovsky M; Morojele NK; Moskalewicz J; Obot IS; Pates R; Room R; Rychert M; Sultan A; Treloar C; Turner NE; Wells S; Williams EC; Witkiewitz K; Grebely J; Hellman M
To Impose or Not Impose Penalty Conditions Following Professional Misconduct: What Factors Are Cited by Three Professional Disciplinary Tribunals in New Zealand?
(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-12) Surgenor L; Diesfeld K; Rychert M; Kelly O; Kersey K; Easteal P
Profession-related disciplinary tribunals consider a range of factors when determining penalties following findings of professional misconduct. Penalties that impose conditions on practice hold the potential to facilitate practitioners’ rehabilitation back to safe practice. This study explores the use of penalty conditions by three disciplinary tribunals in New Zealand (the Lawyers and Conveyancers Tribunal [LCDT]; the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal [HPDT]; and the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal [TDT]). Disciplinary decisions published between 2018 and 2022 (N = 538) were analysed, coding the explicit reasons cited for imposing or not imposing conditions and if rehabilitation was cited as a penalty principle. Conditions were imposed in 58.6% of the cases, though tribunals varied. All of the tribunals commonly referred to the concepts of remorse/insight, or lack of it, as reasons for ordering or not ordering conditions, and they often considered the seriousness of the misconduct. Reasons for not ordering conditions were more varied between tribunals, as was citing rehabilitation as a penalty principle. The findings suggest that tribunals give substantial consideration to the decision of imposing conditions, drawing on both objective (e.g., past misconduct) and subjective (e.g., cognitive and psychological) phenomena. The reasons did align with concepts found in broad sentencing guidelines from some other jurisdictions (e.g., criminal justice response), though future research on defining and measuring these concepts may help understand their predictive and protective utility.
Exploring women’s intentions to seek medicinal cannabis prescriptions in New Zealand using the theory of planned behaviour
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2025-03-13) Withanarachchie V; Rychert M; Wilkins C
Background: Women are an emerging demographic for legal medicinal cannabis (MC) in New Zealand and overseas, yet their information sources and prescription pathways remain underexplored. This study examines how women learn about MC and the factors influencing their prescription decisions, including motivations tied to prior cannabis experience. Methods: Interviews with 23 women who sought MC prescriptions in the last 12 months. The Theory of Planned Behaviour guided the deductive thematic analysis to explore the factors influencing their intention to seek MC prescriptions. Results: Participants were primarily motivated by positive online testimonies from other women MC consumers. Unregulated forums, social media, and cannabis clinics websites provided accessible channels for MC information, supporting self-guided treatment and perceptions of prescription pathways (private cannabis clinics vs. regular physicians). Past negative experiences with medical professionals influenced these choices. While some women feared stigma and judgement, others felt empowered to prioritise their needs and challenge gendered views of cannabis. Conclusion: The TPB model showed that positive beliefs about MC, accessible prescriptions, and support encouraged legal MC use, while stigma and negative physician interactions discouraged it. Digital platforms enabled self-guided treatment, however, limit reliable information. Credible online resources are needed to support women’s growing interest in MC.
Exploring hidden risks and empowerment in women’s acquisition of medicinal cannabis from illegal markets: a qualitative study
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2025-03-21) Withanarachchie V; Rychert M; Wilkins C
Background: Women are a growing consumer base for medicinal cannabis (MC) in jurisdictions where it has been legalised, however, many still purchase MC from the unregulated illegal market. Little is known about women’s experiences of buying MC from these male-dominated illegal drug markets. This study explores women’s lived experiences accessing MC from illegal markets in New Zealand (NZ) to inform the need to ehance MC schemes for women. Methods: In-depth interviews with 15 women who purchased MC from the illegal market post MC legalisation. A qualitative description approach analysed their experiences, supplier relationships, and safety. Results: MC legalisation has facilitated a pathway to prescriptions, however, women face barriers including less disposable income, prioritising family expenses, and sexist attitudes among health professionals. Illegal markets were described as intimidating, with reports of sexual harassment, assault, and robbery. A novel finding waswomen-only social media groups for safety and supplier monitoring. Participants felt responsible for their own safety, as reporting to police posed legal risks. Conclusion: Women face gende-specific vulnerabilities when buying MC illegally, including safety risks and exposure to unregulated products. The findings are often overlooked in MC policy discussions, highlighting the need for gender-informed MC access.
Motherhood and medicinal cannabis.
(John Wiley and Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs., 2025-02-18) Withanarachchie V; Rychert M; Wilkins C
INTRODUCTION: Women are emerging as a key demographic for medicinal cannabis (MC) use in countries that have implemented MC reforms. However, research on mothers' experiences of consuming MC remains limited beyond studies on perinatal outcomes. This study explores mothers' diverse experiences of consuming MC in New Zealand under the legal MC scheme. METHODS: Interviews with 15 mothers using MC via prescriptions, the illegal market or both in the last 12 months. Thematic analysis focused on MC use in parenting, MC conversations with children, societal stigma and risks. RESULTS: Mothers reported MC as an important facilitator of their ability to positively parent their children, enabling them to manage their own health needs (i.e., anxiety, endometriosis and arthritis). High costs of legal products hindered access to MC. Participants expressed unique risks that mothers face accessing the unregulated market for MC like being deemed a 'bad mother' and losing custody of children. Stigma was countered with narratives of empowerment through proactive MC conversations with children and agency by self-medicating with MC despite the judgement they may face for being a parent that uses cannabis. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Mothers felt managing their health with MC allowed them to be more present parents and better tolerate the stressors of motherhood. In-depth exploration of discussing MC with children and anticipating these conversations was a novel finding. Most mothers tried to destigmatise MC in conversations by classifying it in the same category as other medications and discussing its therapeutic benefits. Few were cautious about having these conversations too early.
Systemic inequities in alcohol licensing: Case studies in eight Aotearoa New Zealand communities.
(John Wiley and Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs, 2025-01-21) Randerson S; Casswell S; Borell B; Rychert M; Gordon L; Lin E-Y; Huckle T; Graydon-Guy T
Introduction Many countries, including Aotearoa New Zealand, have socioeconomic and ethnic inequities in alcohol outlet density, yet the potential contribution of alcohol licensing systems is almost unexplored. After licensing reforms in Aotearoa in 2012, community groups and Māori (the Indigenous people) continued to struggle to influence decisions, prompting calls for reform and authority for Māori reflecting Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. This study explored factors in the failure of public objections in under-resourced neighbourhoods. Methods In a descriptive, multimethod qualitative study, we analysed eight decisions to grant off-licence approvals in socioeconomically deprived areas. Each licence was opposed. Hearing participants and local residents were interviewed. Data were thematically analysed to identify factors affecting objector influence, alignment with Indigenous rights and residents' awareness of alcohol issues and licensing processes. Results Residents identified relevant local harms but were largely unaware of opportunities to object. Objectors faced structural barriers to accessing and influencing hearings that were exacerbated by resource challenges, including travel costs, lost income, competing social issues and limited legal representation. Evidence of area deprivation supported objectors' arguments regarding risk, but a lack of official data on harms undermined them. Māori input was excluded by legal barriers and failures to recognise relevant rights and elements of culture. Discussion and Conclusions Structural barriers, including racism, restricted the influence of under-resourced communities and Māori in licensing decisions and weakened risk assessment, which may hinder community efforts to reduce their disproportionate exposure to alcohol outlets. Licensing systems should be reviewed from equity and Indigenous perspectives.
Exploring the substitution of cannabis for alcohol and other drugs among a large convenience sample of people who use cannabis.
(BioMed Central Ltd, 2024-11-05) Wilkins C; Romeo J; Rychert M; Graydon-Guy T
Background The substitution of cannabis for alcohol and other drugs has been conceptualised in a harm reduction framework as where cannabis is used to reduce the negative side-effects, addiction potential, and social stigma of other drugs. There is currently mixed evidence with recent reviews suggesting cannabis co-use patterns may vary by age and ethnicity. Yet few studies have had large enough samples to examine this demographic variation in detail. Aims To explore the co-use of cannabis with alcohol and other drugs within demographic subgroups of a large sample of people who use cannabis. Specifically: (1) whether cannabis is being substituted for other drugs, and (2), whether cannabis use leads to more, less or the same level of other drug use. Method Online convenience survey promoted via Facebook™ completed by 23,500 New Zealand respondents. Those who had used cannabis and any of eight other substances in the same six-month period were asked if their use of cannabis had any impact on their use of each other substance (“a lot more”, “little more”, “no impact/same”, “little less”, “a lot less”). Frequency and quantity used of each other drug was compared by co-use group. Generalised logistic regression models were developed to predict co-use categories. Results Significant proportions reported cannabis use led to “less” alcohol (60%), synthetic cannabinoid (60%), morphine (44%) and methamphetamine (40%) use. Those who reported using “less” had lower frequency and amount used of other drugs. Approximately seven-out-ten reported cannabis use had “no impact” on LSD, MDMA, and cocaine use. One-in-five reported using cannabis led to “more” tobacco use. Young adults (21–35-years) were more likely to report cannabis use led to “less” drinking and methamphetamine use. Adolescent co-users (16–20 years) reported mixed impacts. Māori were more likely to report cannabis use resulted in “less” alcohol, tobacco, methamphetamine, and LSD use. Students and those living in cities were less likely to report cannabis use lowering use of other substances. Conclusion Cannabis and other drug co-use patterns are moderated by life stages, lifestyles, cultural perspectives, and urbanicity. Harm reduction initiatives and policy reforms should take account of these moderating factors.
Legal sourcing of ten cannabis products in the Canadian cannabis market, 2019-2021: a repeat cross-sectional study.
(BioMed Central Ltd, 2023-02-17) Wadsworth E; Rynard V; Driezen P; Freeman TP; Rychert M; Wilkins C; Hall W; Gabrys R; Hammond D
BACKGROUND: One of the objectives of cannabis legalization in Canada is to transition consumers from the illegal to the legal market. Little is known about how legal sourcing varies across different cannabis product types, provinces, and frequency of cannabis use. METHODS: Data were analyzed from Canadian respondents in the International Cannabis Policy Study, a repeat cross-sectional survey conducted annually from 2019 to 2021. Respondents were 15,311 past 12-month cannabis consumers of legal age to purchase cannabis. Weighted logistic regression models estimated the association between legal sourcing ("all"/ "some"/ "none") of ten cannabis product types, province, and frequency of cannabis use over time. RESULTS: The percentage of consumers who sourced "all" their cannabis products from legal sources in the past 12 months varied by product type, ranging from 49% of solid concentrate consumers to 82% of cannabis drink consumers in 2021. The percentage of consumers sourcing "all" their respective products legally was greater in 2021 than 2020 across all products. Legal sourcing varied by frequency of use: weekly or more frequent consumers were more likely to source "some" (versus "none") of their products legally versus less frequent consumers. Legal sourcing also varied by province, with a lower likelihood of legal sourcing in Québec of products whose legal sale was restricted (e.g., edibles). CONCLUSION: Legal sourcing increased over time, demonstrating progress in the transition to the legal market for all products in the first three years of legalization in Canada. Legal sourcing was highest for drinks and oils and lowest for solid concentrates and hash.
Exploring Differences in Daily Vaping of Nicotine and Cannabis among People Who Use Drugs in New Zealand.
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2023-06-16) Rychert M; Romeo JS; Wilkins C
Background: Little is known about daily vaping of different substances, particularly cannabis. Aim: To explore daily vaping of cannabis and nicotine products in a sample of people who use drugs in New Zealand. Method: The online New Zealand Drug Trends convenience survey (N = 23,500) was promoted to those aged 16+ via a targeted Facebook™ campaign, with 9,042 reporting vaping in the past six months. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to identify predictors of daily vaping of: (i) nicotine e-liquids, (ii) no-nicotine e-liquids, (iii) cannabis e-liquids/oils, (iv)cannabis herb. Results: Forty-two percent of past 6-month vapers used a vaporizing device "daily or near daily" (n = 3,508). Nicotine was most common substance used by daily vapers (96%), followed by dry herb cannabis (12%), no-nicotine e-liquids (10%) and cannabis e-liquid (6%). Daily vaping of no-nicotine e-liquids was associated with abstinence from tobacco use. Frequency of cannabis use was negatively correlated with daily vaping of nicotine liquids and positively correlated with daily vaping of no-nicotine and herbal cannabis. Younger age strongly predicted daily vaping of nicotine and no-nicotine liquids, but the reverse association was observed for daily vaping of herbal cannabis. Māori were less likely to daily vape cannabis herb than NZ Europeans. Daily vaping of both cannabis e-liquid and cannabis herb was associated with medicinal cannabis use. Conclusion: Daily vapers of nicotine and cannabis differed by several characteristics. Younger age group is at risk of daily vaping nicotine and non-nicotine, while herbal cannabis vaping is associated with older and medicinal use, suggesting a need for a nuanced vape policy response.

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