Article Dans Une Revue International Journal of Drug Policy Année : 2024

What can we learn from low-THC cannabis growers in Europe? A comparative transnational study of small-scale cannabis growers from Italy and Switzerland

Résumé

Background: A market for cannabis with low levels (LT) of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has recently emerged in Europe alongside an ongoing trend of domestic cannabis cultivation with high-THC content (HT). This phenomenon may have diversified the growers' profile. This study investigates LT growers' (LTG) characteristics (demographics, consumption patterns, growing experience) and growing motivations with a subsequent comparison with HT growers (HTG). Methods: Data from 11,479 small-scale growers was collected through an online survey (ICCQ 2) conducted by the Global Cannabis Cultivation Research Consortium (GCCRC) from 2020 to 2021. This exploratory study analyses a subsample of the 1618 respondents residing in Italy and Switzerland. A quantitative approach was used, performing comparative bivariate and multivariate analyses between participants who have only grown HT plants in the previous year (HTG; n = 1303) and those who have either grown LT only or alongside HT (LTG; n = 315). Results: LTGs differ significantly from HTGs. LTGs are older than HTGs. Growing medical cannabis for oneself and others is more likely among them than HTGs. Compared to HTGs, LTGs have lesser odds to grow for recreational use and to have problematic cannabis use. Growing for legality, pleasure and accessing milder cannabis is more likely for LTGs than HTGs. HTGs have greater experience than HTGs, growing for longer, more extensively and better meeting their consumption needs. There is a wider production of by-products, such as oils and extracts, among LTGs than HTGs. Having been in contact with the police for growing is also more likely among them than HTGs. Conclusion: LTGs reported significantly more growing experience when compared to HTGs and should be considered a distinct group of growers. The results suggest that the emergence of the legal LT market has more likely drawn previous HTGs into growing LT, mainly medically, rather than attracting new individuals toward cannabis cultivation. Keywords: CBD; Cannabis cultivation; Cannabis growers; High-THC cannabis; Low-THC cannabis.

Mots clés

Cannabis cultivation Low-THC cannabis CBD High-THC cannabis Cannabis growers CBD, cannabidiol CFLA, commission fédérale pour les questions liées aux addictions [Swiss Federal Commission for Drug Issues] CHE, Switzerland EMCDDA, European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addictions GCCRC, global cannabis cultivation research consortium HT, High-THC cannabis HTG, HT growers ICCQ, international cannabis cultivation questionnaire ITA, Italy LT, low-THC cannabis LTG, LT growers THC, tetrahydrocannabinol Writingoriginal draft, Visualization, Validation, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis, Conceptualization. Jodie Grigg: Writingreview & editing, Validation, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Data curation, Conceptualization. Michala Kowalski: Writingreview & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization. Eric Sevigny: Writingreview & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Data curation, Conceptualization. Frank Zobel: Writingreview & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization. Davide Fortin: Writingreview & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization Cannabis cultivation Low-THC cannabis CBD High-THC cannabis Cannabis growers CBD, cannabidiol CFLA, commission fédérale pour les questions liées aux addictions [Swiss Federal Commission for Drug Issues] CHE, Switzerland EMCDDA, European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addictions GCCRC, global cannabis cultivation research consortium HT, High-THC cannabis HTG, HT growers ICCQ, international cannabis cultivation questionnaire ITA, Italy LT, low-THC cannabis LTG, LT growers THC, tetrahydrocannabinol Writingoriginal draft, Visualization, Validation, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis, Conceptualization. Jodie Grigg: Writingreview & editing, Validation, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Data curation, Conceptualization. Michala Kowalski: Writingreview & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization. Eric Sevigny: Writingreview & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Data curation, Conceptualization. Frank Zobel: Writingreview & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization. Davide Fortin: Writingreview & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization
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inserm-04929448 , version 1 (04-02-2025)

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Ashely Granville, Jodie Grigg, Michala Kowalski, Eric Sevigny, Frank Zobel, et al.. What can we learn from low-THC cannabis growers in Europe? A comparative transnational study of small-scale cannabis growers from Italy and Switzerland. International Journal of Drug Policy, 2024, pp.104505. ⟨10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104505⟩. ⟨inserm-04929448⟩
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