Web-based and government cannabis retailer data often disagreed on store locations and status | Research

The takeaway

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.

Cannabis policy researchers, public health epidemiologists, and state regulators maintaining retailer databases.

Both web services and government registries contained retailer data inaccuracies

What the researchers 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.

Why it 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 numbers in context

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 the study worked

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.

What this study cannot 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.

How to read the evidence

Methodological study comparing data sources. Useful for research quality but does not measure health outcomes.

When this study was published

Published 2023. Data from states legalizing by 2019.

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.

Questions still open

Should researchers use combined data sources or field verification to improve accuracy? Would standardized federal data solve these discrepancies?

Common 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 the original research

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

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

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