Private pot shops closer than government retailers to schools, study finds

Privatecannabis storestend to be closer to primary andsecondary schools than government-run stores are, according to a new study that compareslegally operatingrecreational cannabisoutlets across Canada.

There are also 49 per cent more private stores per capita in jurisdictions where they can operate, and they're open an average of 9.2 more hours each week than government-runoutlets.

But all cannabis stores private and government-run are about twice as likely to be found in lower-income neighbourhoods than high-income neighbourhoods, the study found.

Researchers atthe Ottawa Hospital, the University of Ottawa and the Bruyre Research Institute used government and private websites to collectlistings on retail cannabis storesthat opened across Canadain the first six months afterthe drug was legalized in October 2018.

In total, the study found that 260 cannabis stores opened in that timeframe:

• 181 privatestores in Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario.
• 55 governmentstores in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and theNorthwest Territories.
• 24 in the hybrid private/governmentsystem in British Columbiaand Yukon.

In jurisdictions with privately-run stores, the median distance between cannabis outletsand the nearest school was 577 metres 167 metres closer than in jurisdictions withgovernment-run stores only.

Daniel Myran, the study's lead researcher, told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morningthe study was conducted with the goals of legalization replacing the illicit market and restricting youth access to the drug in mind.

• Ontario is set to get 50 more cannabis stores this fall
• A dozen Ontario pot shops are being penalized for not opening on time

The concern over private stores tending to be closer to schoolsneeds to be weighed against more private stores being able to open faster, Myran said, which can help contribute to the elimination of the black market.

"I think it speaks to the two goals of legalization and that there could be a tension between the two," he said.

While the finding may be concerning to some, Myran said it's too early to soundthe alarm.

"I think the amount of concern that we should have actually depends on how those cannabis stores are behaving."

Looking at previous studies of alcohol and tobacco could hold some clues. With tobacco, for example, studies have shown that less advertising in a store can help reduce consumption among youths, despite proximity to schools.

"If you have controls in place, it may be that it is not as critical how closethese stores are to schools," he said.

Concentration in lower-income neighbourhoods

The study also found thatin all jurisdictions, there were twice as many cannabis stores in lower-income neighbourhoods than higher-income neighbourhoods.

Myran said the same pattern is seenwith stores selling alcohol and tobacco across Ontario.

"This is probably just a good business case," he said."There's actually some data suggesting that lower-income individuals are more likely to consume cannabis and consume cannabis more frequently than higher-income individuals. So [cannabis stores] may just be in these areas because it makes economic sense."

But in Ottawa and the rest ofOntario the trend seen elsewhere in Canada doesn't quite hold true. Myran said the reason could bethat Ontario awarded licencesusinga lottery system.

"That may have actually prevented them from concentrating in poor, low-income neighbourhoods," he said.