The association between cannabis consumption and compliance with COVID-19 related barrier measures: prospective analyses from the French CONSTANCES cohort and SAPRIS survey

Objective To examine the association between the frequency of cannabis consumption and compliance with COVID-19 related barrier measures among adults in France between April and October 2020. Methods Data from the CONSTANCES cohort on 39,450 adults participating in the SAPRIS survey were analyzed. The associations between noncompliance with handwashing, wearing a mask and social distancing and the frequency of cannabis consumption in 2019 at two periods of time, wave 1 + 2 (confinement) and wave 3 (deconfinement), were examined using binary logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, accommodation, tobacco use, self-rated health, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Results Compared to not consuming cannabis during the last 12 months, consuming less than once per month was negatively associated with handwashing at wave 3 (Odds Ratio [95% Confidence Interval]) 1.46 [1.28–1.66], wearing a mask at wave 1 + 2 (1.26 [1.05–1.52]) and at wave 3 (1.60 [1.35–1.89]) and social distancing at wave 1 + 2 (1.32 [1.16–1.50]) and at wave 3 (1.55[1.32–1.83]). Consuming cannabis once per month or more was negatively associated with wearing a mask at wave 3 (1.41 [1.11–1.80]) and social distancing at wave 1 + 2 (1.27 [1.06–1.52]) and at wave 3 (1.57 [1.25–1.98]). Conclusion Cannabis consumption may be associated with less compliance with barrier measures.