PRESS RELEASE: Scorecards Highlight Gaps in CA Local Cannabis Policies Amid Rising Public Health Concerns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Today, Getting it Right from the Start, a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI), released its 6th Annual State of Cannabis Policy in California Scorecards, offering a comprehensive overview of cannabis policies in cities and counties that allow retail sales. The 2024 scorecards identify critical opportunities to shape a safer local cannabis marketplace amid rising public health concerns, but many jurisdictions are not yet opting to go beyond basic state law to prioritize health, protect youth, or advance social equity.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, October 30, 2024

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.

Getting it Right from the Start Condemns Hemp Industry Lawsuit Against California’s Emergency Regulations on Intoxicating Hemp Products

Statement From Dr. Lynn Silver, Senior Adviser, Public Health Institute, September, 2024

“We are deeply dismayed by the hemp industry’s lawsuit to block California’s emergency regulations on intoxicating hemp products which took effect on Monday, September 23rd…This legal action is yet another blatant attempt by the hemp industry to prioritize profit over public health. By opposing these much-needed regulations, the industry is fighting to continue selling products that are harming our children and youth.”

Getting it Right from the Start Applauds California Upholding Governor Newsom’s Emergency Regulations to Protect Children and Youth from Psychoactive Hemp Products

Getting it Right from the Start, September, 2024

Getting it Right from the Start, a project of the Public Health Institute, fully supports California’s Office of Administrative Law’s (OAL) rejection of the hemp industry’s baseless case to overrule Governor Newsom’s proposed emergency regulations on hemp products.

State of Cannabis Report: Are Local Policies Protecting Us?

Getting it Right from the Start, October 31, 2023

Today, Getting it Right from the Start, a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI), released its 5th annual State of Cannabis Report, tracking adoption of key policies by cities and counties that allow cannabis retail sales. 

Health, Child Advocates Dismayed by Gov. Newsom’s Veto of Bill to Address Child Cannabis Poisonings

Getting it Right from the Start, October 10, 2023

“Today corporate shamelessness won, kids lost. We are shocked and disappointed that the Governor opted to veto AB1207, a widely supported bill to protect children from some of the most egregious marketing practices of the cannabis industry,” said Dr. Lynn Silver, pediatrician and director of Getting it Right from the Start. 

CA Bill Addressing Surge of Child Cannabis Poisonings Passes Legislature, Heads to Gov. Newsom’s Desk

Getting it Right from the Start, September 18, 2023

“The outrageous packaging and marketing of cannabis products so that they are intentionally attractive to children is one of the leading causes of pediatric cannabis exposures,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, author of AB 1207. 

CA Bill to Address Exploding Number of Child Cannabis Poisonings Passes Assembly Floor

Getting it Right from the Start, May 26, 2023

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin’s landmark bill addressing the recent explosion of poisonings and hospitalizaons of young children due to accidental ingestion of cannabis products overwhelmingly passed the State Assembly floor by a vote of 61 Yea to 0 Nay (19 Abs).

Lawmaker, Advocates Gather in Support of CA Bill to Address Child Cannabis Poisonings Epidemic

Getting it Right from the Start, May 16, 2023

(CA) Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin joined pediatricians, public health, education, and youth advocacy groups for a virtual press conference in support of a landmark piece of legislation that addresses the recent explosion of poisonings and hospitalizations of young children due to accidental ingestion of cannabis products. Watch the video and our 2 minute run through of legally purchased cannabis products attractive to kids.

Are Local Cannabis Policies Protecting Us?

Getting it Right from the Start, November 2nd, 2022

Today, Getting it Right from the Start, a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI), released its 4th annual Local Cannabis Policy Scorecards, which track and evaluate policies passed by cities and counties that allow legal cannabis retail sales.

Landmark California Cannabis Right to Know Bill Torpedoed by Industry Power

Getting it Right from the Start, August 22, 2022

“Today, even as cannabis use by youth once again hit an all-time high, the cannabis industry’s growing influence over legislation succeeded in preventing the public from accessing basic information about the health hazards of cannabis use and simple steps to use it more safely,” said Dr. Lynn Silver, Director of Getting it Right from the Start.

New Commentary in JAMA: California’s Industry Friendly Regulatory Approach to Cannabis Undermines Public Health

Getting it Right from the Start, July 13, 2022

A new commentary published in the prestigious JAMA Health Forum offers a timely analysis of how an industry-friendly approach to cannabis regulation is undermining the health of Californians – particularly vulnerable populations. 

Sen. Dr. Richard Pan, Physicians, Parents, Public Health, Youth, Child and Substance Abuse Groups Gather to Urge Passage of the Cannabis Right to Know Act

March 31, 2022

(CA) Today, pediatricians, obstetricians, emergency medicine physicians, addiction medicine specialists, public health, youth, children’s’ and substance use prevention groups, and parents whose children have suffered from serious cannabis related health harms joined for a virtual press conference to urge the State legislature to pass The Cannabis Right to Know Act (SB 1097 – Senator Pan). Watch video of the event here!

Child and Youth Advocates Statewide Held a Virtual Press Conference to Oppose Tax Cuts Proposed by the Cannabis Industry

Youth Forward, Getting it Right from the Start, February 16, 2022

“Like all industries, the cannabis industry wants to have its taxes reduced,” says Dr. Lynn Silver of Getting it Right from the Start, a project of the Public Health Institute. “A key factor in Proposition 64’s passage was the promise that new revenues would serve the public good. Now the industry wants do undo that promise to increase its profits.”

California’s Local Cannabis Policies Can’t Keep Pace With Surging Sales, Leaving Public Health and Equity Behind

Getting it Right from the Start, December 2, 2021

While legal cannabis sales in California are increasing dramatically, local policy efforts to protect youth and public health have lagged behind, according to a statewide study conducted by the Public Health Institute’s Getting it Right from the Start Project.

The State of Cannabis: Local Scorecards Provide Glimpse into California’s ‘Wild West’ Patchwork of Cannabis Policies

Getting it Right from the Start, January 14, 2021

“California is solidly in the ‘Wild West’ of cannabis regulation, creating an overheated cannabis market that has already led to increases in teen use. This approach can have serious negative impacts on physical and mental health, as well as equity.”

California’s Local Marijuana Laws Fail to Heed Decades of Lessons from Tobacco Controls

Getting it Right from the Start, June 19, 2020

While promising examples of local innovation are emerging, our study shows that California state and many local governments have allowed the cannabis industry to adopt the same tactics that made tobacco a public health menace.