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.

Marijuana use dramatically increases risk of dying from heart attacks and stroke, large study finds

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN, June 17, 2025

CNN provides in depth coverage of new study in the peer reviewed journal Heart, and the accompanying editorial by Dr. Lynn Silver of Getting it Right from the Start and Dr. Stanton Glantz. Our Director, Dr. Silver, notes it’s time for clinicians to screen for cannabis use like they do for tobacco — and for regulators to focus on real health risks, not just building a legal market.

Read Article

It is time to treat cannabis as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease

By Dr. Lynn Silver and Dr. Stanton Glantz, June 17, 2025

In an editorial published alongside a major new study in Heart, our Director Dr. Lynn Silver and Dr. Stanton Glantz call for urgent reforms to cannabis policy and clinical practice in light of growing evidence of cardiovascular harm. They argue that cannabis regulation must follow a true public health framework — with product warnings, clinician education, and policies that discourage high-potency, high-frequency use.

Read Editorial

New Study Links Cannabis Retail Availability to Increased Mental Health Risks in Teens

By Getting it Right from the Start and Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Substance Use and Misuse, May 27, 2025

Local policies prohibiting cannabis sales and lower cannabis retail availability are associated with a lower prevalence of adolescent cannabis use. In this study, we examined whether local prohibitions on cannabis retail and cannabis retailer proximity and density are associated with adverse cannabis-related mental health outcomes among adolescents.

Read Study

Marijuana ads are enticing kids to try weed, study says

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN, February 12, 2025

CNN just covered our latest study exposing how cannabis companies are using social media loopholes to market to youth—despite laws meant to prevent it. Our research director, Alisa Padon, warns: “Businesses are allowed to make their own pages and post ads on their feed. Youth are bypassing age restrictions and seeing ads for products they’re not legally allowed to buy. They can like, comment, and share those posts with their friends.” The result? Increased interest in cannabis use among youth—a trend with serious public health consequences.

Read Article

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

 

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

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Getting it Right from the Start Follow

Research, capacity building and advocacy to protect public health, youth and equity in cannabis policy. Also find us at @getitrightonmj.bsky.social

GetItRightonMJ
getitrightonmj Getting it Right from the Start @getitrightonmj ·
19 Jun

1/@GuardianUS’s @andrewgregory covers our @Heart_BMJ editorial on the new meta-analysis of 24 studies — involving ...~200 million people — finding #cannabis use linked to 2x higher risk of death from #HeartDisease & 20% higher risk of stroke.

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getitrightonmj Getting it Right from the Start @getitrightonmj ·
18 Jun

1/@KQED’s @adembosky covers editorial in @Heart_BMJ (By Dr. Silver & @ProfGlantz) re: new meta-analysis that ...found #cannabis users face:

• 29% higher risk of #HeartAttack
• 20% higher risk of #Stroke
• Double the risk of #CardiovascularDeath

Read:

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getitrightonmj Getting it Right from the Start @getitrightonmj ·
18 Jun

1/Major new @CNN story about our editorial (& accompanying study) in @Heart_BMJ: Using #cannabis doubles risk of ...dying from #HeartDisease, with significantly increased risk for #HeartAttacks (+29%) & stroke (+20%).

Read more:

#Cannabis #HeartHealth

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