After receiving a brief scientific information intervention, 3,162 residents of Sinaloa, Mexico showed significantly more positive or neutral attitudes toward cannabis, with education level and age moderating the effect.
Drug policy researchers, public health educators, Latin American policy makers
3,162 participants shifted attitudes after evidence-based briefing
What the researchers found
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.
Why it matters
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.
The numbers in context
3,162 participants from Sinaloa; attitudes shifted significantly toward positive/neutral after intervention; education and age were key moderators
How the study worked
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.
What this study cannot tell us
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.
How to read the evidence
Large sample but convenience-based, with no control group and only immediate post-intervention assessment.
When this study was published
Published 2023
The bigger picture
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.
Questions still open
- Do these attitude changes persist over time? Would similar interventions work in regions without Sinaloa's unique relationship with cannabis?
Common questions
Can scientific information change how people view cannabis?
Who was most affected by the information?
Read the original research
Scientific facts improve cannabis perception and public opinion: results from Sinaloa, México.
Scientific reports, 13(1), 17318
Citation
Camberos-Barraza, Josué; Osuna-Ramos, Juan F; Rábago-Monzón, Ángel R; Quiñonez-Angulo, Luis F; González-Peña, Héctor R; Pérez-Ramos, Alan A; Camacho-Zamora, Alejandro; López-Lazcano, Héctor; Valdez-Flores, Marco A; Angulo-Rojo, Carla E; Guadrón-Llanos, Alma M; Picos-Cárdenas, Verónica J; Norzagaray-Valenzuela, Claudia D; De la Herrán-Arita, Alberto K. (2023). Scientific facts improve cannabis perception and public opinion: results from Sinaloa, México.. Scientific reports, 13(1), 17318. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44185-5