Web-based and government cannabis retailer data often disagreed on store locations and status
Comparing web services like Yelp with government registries across US states revealed significant inaccuracies in cannabis retailer location data, which could bias public health research on cannabis access.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis retailer data from web services and government registries frequently disagreed on operating status and location accuracy, with both sources containing errors that could affect geographic access research.
Key Numbers
Multiple US states with legal cannabis sales examined. Both web-based and government registry sources contained inaccuracies in retailer operating status and location information.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional comparison of cannabis retailer location data from web services (e.g., Yelp) and government-maintained state registries across US states that legalized cannabis sales in 2019.
Why This Research Matters
Researchers studying how cannabis retail access affects health outcomes depend on accurate store location data. If both major data sources contain significant errors, study findings about cannabis access and health may be unreliable.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis access research informs policy decisions about store placement, zoning, and density limits, the underlying data quality matters enormously. Systematic data errors could lead to misguided policy.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Point-in-time comparison in states that legalized by 2019. Cannabis retail landscapes change rapidly. Definition of "accurate" location may vary. Cannot determine which source is definitively correct when they disagree.
Questions This Raises
- ?Should researchers use combined data sources or field verification to improve accuracy?
- ?Would standardized federal data solve these discrepancies?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Both web services and government registries contained retailer data inaccuracies
- Evidence Grade:
- Methodological study comparing data sources. Useful for research quality but does not measure health outcomes.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023. Data from states legalizing by 2019.
- Original Title:
- Accuracy Differences in Cannabis Retailer Information Ascertained from Webservices and Government-Maintained State Registries Across US States Legalizing the Sale of Cannabis in 2019.
- Published In:
- Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 6(2), 133-148 (2023)
- Authors:
- Williams, Michael, Mahlan, Matt, Holmes, Connor, Pankowska, Magdalena, Kaur, Manjot, Ilegbusi, Aderonke, Haley, Danielle F
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05028
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why does cannabis store location data matter?
Researchers use store locations to study whether proximity to cannabis retailers affects use patterns, youth access, traffic safety, and other health outcomes. If the underlying location data is inaccurate, the conclusions drawn from these studies may be wrong.
Which data source is more accurate?
Neither was consistently superior. Government registries sometimes contained closed stores, while web services sometimes listed unlicensed operations. The study recommends researchers verify data from multiple sources rather than relying on either alone.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05028APA
Williams, Michael; Mahlan, Matt; Holmes, Connor; Pankowska, Magdalena; Kaur, Manjot; Ilegbusi, Aderonke; Haley, Danielle F. (2023). Accuracy Differences in Cannabis Retailer Information Ascertained from Webservices and Government-Maintained State Registries Across US States Legalizing the Sale of Cannabis in 2019.. Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 6(2), 133-148. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis/2023/000148
MLA
Williams, Michael, et al. "Accuracy Differences in Cannabis Retailer Information Ascertained from Webservices and Government-Maintained State Registries Across US States Legalizing the Sale of Cannabis in 2019.." Cannabis (Albuquerque, 2023. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis/2023/000148
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Accuracy Differences in Cannabis Retailer Information Ascert..." RTHC-05028. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/williams-2023-accuracy-differences-in-cannabis
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.