Exploring the Potential of “Budtenders” as Harm Reduction Agents: A Study among Cannabis Retail Workers in Washington State
This project explored the potential for cannabis retail staff (budtenders) to educate their customers on practical strategies aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with cannabis use. A harm reduction framework and qualitative methods were utilized.
Focus groups comprised of budtenders explored budtenders’ perspectives on issues of public health significance such as cannabis dosing and potency, cannabis use during pregnancy, acute cannabis intoxication, driving under the influence, cannabis storage and secondhand exposure.
Results can be used to inform recommendations for developing training resources for this growing and important segment of the cannabis industry workforce.
Investigators
Bia Carlini, PhD, MPH PI (UW ADAI)
Sharon Garrett, MPH Co-Investigator (UW ADAI)
Caislin Firth, PhD
Robin Harwick, PhD
Project Staff
Fund Information
Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute Small Grant Program
Start: January 1, 2019
End: June 30, 2019
Status: completed
Project Results
The full project and results are described in the following publication:
Carlini, B. H., Garrett, S. B., Firth, C., & Harwick, R. (2022). Cannabis retail staff (“budtenders”) attitudes towards cannabis effects on health and experiences interacting with consumers – Washington State, USA. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 54(1), 34–42. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2021.1900628
