**Why it matters:** The article discusses the perceptions of youth regarding access to cannabis in Canada and the United States, both before and after legalization. The study found that although there has been a decline in the prevalence of youth reporting easy access to cannabis since legalization, a substantial number of underage youth still believe it is easy to access. This suggests the need for ongoing efforts to control cannabis access among young people.
**What they are saying:** The study examined perceptions of cannabis access among Canadian youth since the onset of the Cannabis Act in 2018 and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers used both repeat cross-sectional data and sequential cohort longitudinal data to analyze trends in perceptions of cannabis access. They found that while the frequency of students reporting easy access to cannabis decreased in the cross-sectional sample, perceptions of easy access increased over time in the longitudinal sample, especially among cannabis users. The researchers emphasize that continued efforts are needed to address youth perception of easy access to cannabis.
**The big picture:** Despite the increase in the number of cannabis retailers in North America over the past decade, youth perception of easy access to cannabis has not significantly decreased. This suggests that current efforts to control cannabis access among young people may not be sufficient.
**What to watch:** It will be important to monitor whether perception of easy access to cannabis continues to decline among youth over time, and if further measures need to be implemented to address this issue. Additionally, future studies should examine changes in youth perception of cannabis availability in different states with and without recreational cannabis laws.
**My take:** The findings of the study are concerning, as they show that despite legalization and efforts to control cannabis access, a substantial number of underage youth still perceive it to be easy to access. This highlights the importance of comprehensive measures to prevent youth access to cannabis, such as strict age verification and education campaigns targeting young people. It is crucial to address this issue to protect the health and well-being of youth.
