Associations between noticing public health education campaigns about cannabis and risk perceptions in the northern Canadian territories: a cross-sectional study.

This study examined the association between noticing cannabis public health education campaigns and cannabis risk perceptions among residents aged 16 and older in Canada’s three northern territories—Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut—following the legalization of non-medical cannabis. Using survey data from 2,452 participants, the study found that 40.4% noticed cannabis education campaigns, with lower awareness among those with lower education and income. Noticing these campaigns was modestly associated with higher perceptions of moderate to very high health risks from daily cannabis smoking and vaping, but not with risk perceptions of daily alcohol consumption or cigarette smoking. The findings suggest that while cannabis education campaigns may modestly increase risk awareness, efforts are needed to improve their reach, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups in remote northern communities.