Alignment in local approaches to alcohol and cannabis control policy: A case study of California cities and counties.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Public health experts have urged governments around the world to regulate newly legalized cannabis as they do alcohol to effectively and efficiently protect health. However, research evaluating the alignment of alcohol and cannabis policies is sparse. We assessed similarities and differences in local alcohol and cannabis control policies across California, and characterized localities adopting distinct policy approaches.

Methods

Using standard legal epidemiologic techniques, we collected and coded local alcohol and cannabis control policies relevant to public health for 12 California counties and all incorporated cities within them (N=241). We assessed whether localities were equally stringent on alcohol and cannabis policies by comparing overall restrictiveness (

SUBMITTER: Matthay EC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10530325 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature