Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

COMPASS is a CIHR-funded longitudinal study investigating youth health behaviours across Canada. The purpose of this study was to examine how personal characteristics, behavioural characteristics, and individual opportunities and constraints influence youth perceptions of marijuana access. Cross-sectional student-level data collected from the COMPASS host study (Year 4: 2015-2016) was used for analysis. Student-level data was available for 40,436 grade 9 to 12 students attending secondary schools in Ontario and Alberta. Logistic regression modelling was used to examine student characteristics associated with the likelihood of perceiving marijuana access as easy. Results show that any previous use of marijuana increased the likelihood of perceiving marijuana access as easy relative to never users. Engagement in risk-taking behaviours such as binge drinking, smoking, and skipping class were associated with an increased likelihood of perceiving access to marijuana as easy. Additionally, reported ease of access increased with each successive grade level. Findings suggest that there are great opportunities to improve marijuana control among youth. This research can be used to compare how perceived access to marijuana changes among youth after legalization.