Citation

González-Roz A, Belisario K, Secades-Villa R, Muñiz J, Mackillop J. Addict. Behav. 2023; 149: e107878.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107878

PMID

37924581

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In October 2021, a legal framework that regulates cannabis for recreational purposes in Spain was proposed, but research on its potential impacts on cannabis use is currently limited. This study examined the reliability and discriminant validity of two Marijuana Purchase Tasks (MPTs) for measuring hypothetical legal and illegal cannabis demand, and to examine differences in demand of both commodities in young adults at hazardous vs. non-hazardous cannabis use risk levels.

METHODS: A total of 171 Spanish young adults [M(age) = 19.82 (SD = 1.81)] with past-month cannabis use participated in a cross-sectional study from September to November 2021. Two 27-item MPTs were used to estimate hypothetical demand for legal and illegal cannabis independently. The Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test (CUDIT-R) was used to assess hazardous cannabis use and test for discriminant validity of the MPTs. Reliability analyses were conducted using Classical Test Theory (Cronbach's alpha) and Item Response Theory (Item Information Functions).

RESULTS: The MPT was reliable for measuring legal (α = 0.94) and illegal (α = 0.90) cannabis demand. Breakpoint (price at which demand ceases), and P(max) (price associated with maximum expenditure) were the most sensitive indicators to discriminate participants with different levels of the cannabis reinforcing trait. No significant differences between legal and illegal cannabis demand in the whole sample were observed, but hazardous vs. non-hazardous users showed higher legal and illegal demand, and decreased Breakpoint and P(max) if cannabis were legal vs illegal.

CONCLUSION: The MPT exhibits robust psychometric validity and may be useful to inform on cannabis regulatory science in Spain.

Language: en

Keywords

Spain; Young adults; Behavioral economics; Cannabis demand; Recreational use