Among 935 respondents, a weak correlation existed between greater distance from dispensaries and more positive medical cannabis attitudes, with gender and state legal status as the strongest attitudinal predictors.
Cannabis policy researchers, zoning officials, medical cannabis advocates
Gender and state legal status predicted medical cannabis attitudes more than dispensary proximity
What the researchers found
Weak positive correlation between distance from dispensary and favorable MC attitudes; dispensary density did not significantly impact attitudes; gender (p=0.004), age (p=0.048), and state legal status (p<0.001) were significant predictors in regression.
Why it matters
As dispensaries proliferate, understanding whether proximity normalizes or stigmatizes medical cannabis can inform zoning and public health policy.
The numbers in context
935 respondents; 743 in no-dispensary zip codes, 160 moderate-density, 32 high-density; weak correlation r=0.090; model R2=0.025; gender and state legal status most significant.
How the study worked
Online survey (2021-2022); 935 respondents; MCAS scores correlated with dispensary proximity and density using zip code data; Spearman correlation, ANOVA, and GLS regression.
What this study cannot tell us
Weak effects (R2=0.025); cross-sectional; self-selected survey sample; unbalanced group sizes; dispensary density measure may not capture actual exposure.
How to read the evidence
Structured survey with geographic data, but very weak effects and cross-sectional design limit practical significance.
When this study was published
Published 2025, data from 2021-2022
The bigger picture
The very weak relationship between proximity and attitudes suggests that cannabis attitudes are shaped more by demographics and policy than by physical exposure to dispensaries.
Questions still open
- Does familiarity with dispensaries breed contempt or comfort? Would longitudinal data show attitude shifts as dispensaries open in new areas? Do dispensary characteristics matter more than mere proximity?
Common questions
Does living near a dispensary change how you feel about medical cannabis?
Did dispensary density matter?
Read the original research
Relationship Between Cannabis Dispensary Density, Proximity, and Attitudes Toward Medical Cannabis: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Health science reports, 8(4), e70685
Citation
Clobes, Thomas A; Himebaugh, Sean; Gamez, Sandra Aguilar; Torres, Mariza. (2025). Relationship Between Cannabis Dispensary Density, Proximity, and Attitudes Toward Medical Cannabis: A Cross-Sectional Study.. Health science reports, 8(4), e70685. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70685