Presenting scientific facts about cannabis shifted public attitudes in a Mexican state known for drug trade

A convenience sample of 3,162 individuals from Sinaloa responded to a cannabis attitudes questionnaire, received a briefing based on international scientific evidence documents, and immediately re-took the questionnaire. The intervention significantly shifted attitudes toward more positive or neutral views of cannabis, with education level and age playing prominent roles in the effectiveness.

Pre-post intervention study with 3,162 participants from Sinaloa, Mexico. Intervention consisted of an informative briefing based on the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy documents. Attitudes assessed via questionnaire before and immediately after intervention.

Sinaloa is historically associated with cannabis cultivation and drug trade, making it a uniquely informative setting for studying how evidence-based information can counter deeply entrenched stigma and misinformation.

As Mexico considers cannabis policy reform, evidence that scientific information can shift attitudes in one of the most drug-trade-affected regions suggests a role for public education in informing policy changes.

Convenience sample limits generalizability. Immediate post-intervention assessment may capture temporary attitude shifts that do not persist. No control group. Social desirability may have influenced responses after hearing from researchers.