The next is excerpted from an internet article posted by Phys.org.
Vibrant colours, fruit imagery, and labels like “domestically made” or “vegan” might sound innocent, however when used on hashish edibles, they will ship deceptive messages to teenagers.
That’s based on a brand new Washington State College-led research analyzing how adolescents understand the packaging of cannabis-infused merchandise resembling gummies, goodies, and sodas. Regardless of laws barring packaging that targets youth, many teenagers within the research discovered these merchandise interesting, usually likening them to on a regular basis snacks or well being meals.
The analysis, carried out in collaboration with Public Well being—Seattle & King County, is a part of a broader effort to cut back unintentional hashish publicity amongst teenagers. The findings might assist form new guidelines geared toward limiting underage attraction.
“What stunned us was how usually these merchandise have been interpreted as wholesome or pure,” mentioned Jessica Willoughby, affiliate professor in WSU’s Murrow School of Communication and co-author of the research, printed within the Journal of Well being Communication. “While you mix that with vibrant packaging and acquainted fruit flavors, it’s straightforward to see how this stuff begin to seem like snacks, not one thing doubtlessly dangerous or unlawful for teenagers.”
Researchers carried out digital focus teams and interviews with 28 Washington teenagers, ages 13 to 17, utilizing actual product images from shops to immediate dialogue. With parental permission, members shared which packaging parts caught their eye and why.
The teenagers persistently pointed to vivid, colourful designs and packaging that resembled wholesome snacks as significantly interesting. Some mentioned they’d show the packaging of their rooms or use it in social media posts. Others mentioned phrases like “domestically made” and “vegan” made the merchandise really feel extra aligned with their private values, even when they knew the objects contained hashish.
“Our findings recommend that teenagers are drawn not simply to the look of those packages, however to what the design represents,” mentioned Stacey Hust, a professor in WSU’s Murrow School and the research’s lead creator. “They noticed these merchandise as fashionable, pure, and aspirational—qualities that resonate with their identities and beliefs.”
Supply: Phys.org
https://phys.org/information/2025-06-healthy-branding-cannabis-edibles-appealing.html
