In the News

PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE RELEASES LOCAL CANNABIS SCORECARDS FOR 2022

By California County News, November 23, 2022

Scorecards are provided for every jurisdiction where retail or delivery cannabis is sold. Emphasis is placed on best practices “to protect youth, reduce problem cannabis use and promote social equity beyond those already in state law,” with scores out of 100 given to each jurisdiction.

Public health group scores Calif. markets for youth protections

By Alex Halperin, WeedWeek, November 14, 2022

Getting it Right from the Start, the public health group which sponsored this year’s unsuccessful, industry-opposed labeling bill, scored California markets which allow retail sales for blocking youth access and supporting social equity. City of San Luis Obispo rated highest among localities with storefronts and San Benito County was tops among jurisdictions that allow only delivery. Counties which allow storefronts and scored below 25 (out of 100) included San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Calaveras and Inyo.

THE JUUL-IZATION OF WEED

By Alex Halperin, WeedWeek, October 28, 2022

WeedWeek reports on “The Juul-ization of weed”. Our own Dr. Lynn Silver is interviewed, citing a study showing 80% of kids who use tobacco started with a flavored product and there’s not good data on what additives are going into vapes at what amounts.

Governor Newsom Wants State Officials To Research Impacts Of High-Potency Marijuana

By April Dembosky, KQED, September 20, 2022

Getting It Right from the Start’s Dr. Lynn Silver is interviewed about Governor Newsom’s package of bills aimed at reforming state cannabis regulations, including directing state officials to study health impacts of high-potency cannabis.

California Dems want mental-health warnings on pot — New York should heed the lesson

By Howard Husock, New York Post, July 31, 2022

Public health is more important than feeding the public till — in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and all 19 states that have legalized recreational pot. It’s simply wrong for state and local governments to rely on a risky product that harms the health of their own citizens. Let’s heed California’s warning.

California Bill Would Require Warning Labels on Cannabis

By AJ Herrington, Cannabis Now, June 27th, 2022

The health risks posed by cannabis can be exacerbated by products with high levels of THC, according to proponents of the Cannabis Right to Know Act. The THC content of cannabis flower from some varietals can exceed 35%, while marijuana concentrates can boast THC levels of more than 99%.

Cases of Cannabis-Induced Psychosis Rise. Lawmakers Want to Add Mental Health Warnings to Pot Products

By April Dembosky, KQED, June 7th, 2022

“Today’s turbocharged products are turbocharging the harms associated with cannabis,” says Dr. Lynn Silver with the Public Health Institute, a nonprofit sponsoring the proposed labeling legislation, SB 1097, the Cannabis Right to Know Act.

Article was picked up by news outlets nationwide, including NPR. 

Textual and Pictorial Enhancement of Cannabis Warning Labels: An Online Experiment among At-Risk U.S. Young Adults

By Dr. Lynn Silver, Alisa A. Padon, Others, Science Direct, June 6, 2022

This study experimentally examines whether enhanced cannabis warning labels (CWLs) outperform those currently required in the U.S. in improving recall of health risks, emotional responses, and perceived message effectiveness among at-risk young adults.

California: The State of Cannabis, Interview with Dr. Lynn Silver 

KTVU-TV, April 20, 2022

On a special edition of KTVU News at 4, Heather Holmes speaks with pediatrician Dr. Lynn Silver about health warnings on edible marijuana products and the Cannabis Right to Know Act.

Opinion: Like Tobacco, Cannabis Should Include a Warning Label — Especially for Suicide Risk

By Dr. Roneet Lev, Times of San Diego, April 5, 2022

Cannabis products should carry a warning and consumer protections like tobacco and alcohol. One of the warnings is that the key ingredient THC has a risk of suicide. That’s why Senate Bill 1097, the Cannabis Right to Know Act, is a step in the right direction for consumer protection.

The Cannabis Right to Know Act – Press Event News Coverage

Our gathering of doctors, public health groups, youth and children advocates, and parents for a virtual press conference urging passage of The Cannabis Right to Know Act (SB 1097 – Senator Pan) received an enormous amount or press coverage! In addition to being featured on three primetime television news shows (including KRON-4 and KTVU-2) and featured in Politico and Calmatters newsletters, check out some of our other media highlights:

• State bill proposes more prominent warning labels for cannabis, Eureka Times Standard
• Anti-cannabis, industry forces collide on proposed California labeling law, North Bay Business Journal
• The California Report, KQED Radio
• Physicians and mental health experts call for stronger cannabis labeling, KCBS Radio

State bill proposes more prominent warning labels for cannabis

Eureka Times-Standard, March 31, 2022

“The Cannabis Right to Know Act makes sure that consumers know how to use cannabis more safely, know why using legal cannabis is safer and know the key health risks associated with cannabis use,” state Senator and pediatrician Richard Pan, the author of the bill, said during a Thursday press conference.

Opinion: Fact Checking Misleading Claims that California’s Cannabis Industry Is Suffering

Times of San Diego, March 23, 2022

In their quest to expand the industry’s commercial footprint in cities and counties across the state, lobbyists have disseminated information that does not align with independent research conducted by the Public Health Institute, which tracks local laws, cannabis licenses, and market data. 

As new California bill seeks cannabis tax breaks, youth groups appeal to state to keep funding

Santa Rosa Press Democrat, February 17, 2022

Dr. Lynn Silver, Public Health Institute program manager, contends cannabis businesses trying to circumvent their tax obligations are “violating the intent” of what the state voters passed in 2016 with Prop. 64. The pediatrician suggested the anti-tax movement is driven by large cannabis corporations “maximizing profits” at the expense of children’s programs.

California’s cannabis conundrum — protecting youth or corporate profit?, By Dr Lynn Silver, Director of Getting it Right from the Start

San Jose Mercury News, February 12, 2022

Dr. Lynn Silver of Getting it Right from the Start details the challenges facing the legal cannabis market, the problem of overproduction, the importance of preserving current industry tax rates to pay for important prevention and health programs, and a series of sensible approaches to cannabis legalization in California.

California Promised Social Equity After Pot Legalization. Those Hit Hardest Feel Betrayed.

By Marisa Gerber, Los Angeles Times, January 27, 2022

Marisa Gerber of the Los Angeles Times investigates the unfulfilled Prop 64 promises of social equity for the communities most negatively impacted by the Drug War. Why not reserve all, or most, licenses for equity applicants & reject cannabis industry calls for across-the-board tax cuts so we can preserve what funding there is for childcare, youth, and equity programs?

Editorial: Billboards advertising pot broke Prop. 64’s promise. Don’t go back on the pledge to protect teens

Los Angeles Times, January 2, 2022

The Los Angeles Times points out that shielding teens from increased exposure to marijuana was a key selling point of the legalization plan California voters approved in 2016 and current billboard advertising violates its intent. The piece interviews our own Alisa Padon, who describes how seeing billboards advertising cannabis in communities serves to normalize it.