Our Vision and Mission

We envision a society where public policy related to cannabis and other substances protects health and advances equity in all its forms.

We use scientific research to identify and advocate for cannabis policy that advances public health and equity, prioritizing groups vulnerable to harms, such as youth. We engage and support partners in our work to ensure that government and industry actions align with these priorities.

Strategies We Use:

  • Scientific Research
  • Policy Design
  • Technical assistance to government and community partners
  • Key audience education
  • Community stakeholder engagement
  • Advocacy
  • Accountability

What We Do

In most states, cannabis legalization has focused mainly on creating a legal profit-making system rather than putting guardrails in place to promote public health, protect youth, and advance social equity.

We provide technical assstance to jurisdictions that are currently regulating cannabis, considering legalizing or decriminalizing cannabis, and to community partners. We develop and share models for safer and more effective cannabis policy, and provide guidance on policies that can reduce harm and prevent problem cannabis use.

We take an evidence-based approach by carrying out and drawing on scientific research, cannabis policy analyses, and lessons from tobacco and alcohol control.

Please contact Aurash Soroosh for more information.

The Race for All-Powerful Pot

By Megan Twohey (and others), New York Times, January 27, 2025
The New York Times’s Megan Twohey and co. takes a deep dive into $32 billion cannabis industry’s race to the bottom. Stiizy and other brands are pushing higher-potency THC products, driving down prices at the cost of public health – fueling addiction, psychosis, and other health risks. Our own Dr. Lynn Silver is featured, explaining the cannabis industry’s effectiveness in portraying itself as a “safe, natural wellness product,” noting, “There’s little awareness of how much the product has actually changed, of how industrialized and increasingly hazardous it’s become.”
Read Report

Scientific Panel Sounds Alarm On High-Potency Cannabis, Proposes Comprehensive Policy Response

Wednesday, October 30th, 2024

Sacramento, CA – A report released today by an independent panel of cannabis experts, convened by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), analyzes the health impacts, including increased risk of dependency and serious mental health conditions, of the highly-potent cannabis products now available in California and offers 20 key policy recommendations to mitigate associated risk.

Read Report

New Cannabis Policy Scorecards Are Here – Check Them Out!

Wednesday, December 18th, 2024

We’re excited to share the release of Getting it Right from the Start’s 6th Annual State of Cannabis Policy in California Scorecards! These scorecards provide a comprehensive overview of cannabis policies across California cities and counties, spotlighting where progress has been made and where opportunities remain to protect public health, safeguard youth, and promote social equity. See how your community is doing!

See Scorecards

Have questions?

We can help!

 

Getting it Right from the Start
Public Health Institute
2000 Center Street, Ste 308
Berkeley, CA 94704
P: (510) 344-7221

gettingitright@phi.org

 

​

Join our Listserv and be part of a dedicated community of public health advocates, regulatory officials, parents, concerned citizens, research scientists, medical professionals, and policymakers.

Join Listserv

Sign up for our action alerts and join the movement to create a safer legal cannabis marketplace without driving up harmful consumption.

Sign Up for Action Alerts

We want to hear from you! Please contact Aurash Soroosh for more information or with any questions you have.

Contact Us

Getting it Right from the Start Follow

Research, capacity building and advocacy to protect public health, youth and equity in cannabis policy.

GetItRightonMJ
getitrightonmj Getting it Right from the Start @getitrightonmj ·
27 Jan

1/@nytimes’s @mega2e & co. take deep dive into $32 billion #cannabis industry’s race to the bottom. #Stiiizy ...& others push higher-potency #THC products, driving down prices at the cost of #PublicHealth - fueling addiction, psychosis, & other health risks. https://t.co/BXyRyzWZ1E

Reply on Twitter 1883996035321913373 Retweet on Twitter 1883996035321913373 2 Like on Twitter 1883996035321913373 4 Twitter 1883996035321913373
getitrightonmj Getting it Right from the Start @getitrightonmj ·
23 Jan

1/#PhilipMorris (PMI) partnership w. Avicanna latest example of #BigTobacco pivoting to #cannabis. This infiltration, ...as w. #tobacco giants #Altria & #BritishAmericanTobacco (BAT) threatens #PublicHealth, #Equity, & small businesses. @JavierHasse @Forbes https://t.co/VnP33rQOpu

Reply on Twitter 1882500456561422401 Retweet on Twitter 1882500456561422401 2 Like on Twitter 1882500456561422401 13 Twitter 1882500456561422401
getitrightonmj Getting it Right from the Start @getitrightonmj ·
10 Jan

1/@MarijuanaMoment’s @badlin covers #NewYork bill to cap #THC potency (15% for flower, 25% for concentrates) to ...protect #PublicHealth & youth from risks of #HighPotency #cannabis (incl. increased ER visits, #MentalHealth issues, #Addiction). #marijuana https://t.co/pAqE9xjnJM

Reply on Twitter 1877787253776564546 Retweet on Twitter 1877787253776564546 Like on Twitter 1877787253776564546 7 Twitter 1877787253776564546
Load More