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As cannabis regulation expands, it is important to understand who enrolls in legal non-medical cannabis programs and how participant profiles relate to harm. We identified participant profiles in Geneva’s pilot trial, La Cannabinothèque , using motives for cannabis use, knowledge of lower-risk use, and perceived risk, and examined differences in key outcomes. Baseline data from 1,290 adult recreational cannabis consumers were analysed. Hierarchical clustering (Ward) followed by K-means refinement supported a four-cluster solution (Cramer’s V = 0.563). Clusters were compared on problematic cannabis use and consumption frequency, mental health symptoms, and quality of life. Cluster 1 ( High motives – Low safer-use knowledge – Moderate risk perception ; 9.9%) showed high endorsement of all motives, lower-risk knowledge, and moderate to elevated perceived risk, and had the highest problematic use/frequency and poorer health indicators. Cluster 2 ( Moderate motives – Average safer-use knowledge – Low risk perception ; 26.7%) had moderate motives (relatively higher enhancement/social), average knowledge, lower perceived risk, and the lowest problematic use with better health indicators. Cluster 3 ( Low motives – High safer-use knowledge – High risk perception ; 29.4%) combined low-to-average motives with the highest knowledge and perceived risk, yet showed frequent use and problematic use comparable to Cluster 1. Cluster 4 ( Minimal motives – Low safer-use knowledge – Very low risk perception ; 34.0%) reported minimal motives, low knowledge and perceived risk, and low use/problems; members were older with later initiation. Findings support the link between coping-related motivation and problematic use, but the high-risk profile of Cluster 3 despite strong knowledge and risk awareness suggests that information and perception alone may not reduce harm. Profile-tailored harm reduction and integrated support may be needed within regulated cannabis frameworks. • Four cannabis use profiles identified in a Swiss regulated sales pilot • Profiles differed in use motives, perceived risk, and harm-reduction knowledge • Coping-related use was associated with higher problematic cannabis use • High perceived risk did not consistently align with lower use levels • Findings inform targeted prevention in regulated cannabis markets
BISSON et al. (Fri,) studied this question.