Getting it Right from the Start

11/14/2025

California’s suspension of the cannabis excise tax increase (AB 564) is already putting critical Prop 64–funded programs at risk.

A new Capitol Weekly piece lays out what’s coming: fewer resources for child care, youth prevention, tribal and community programs, and environmental restoration — all while the illicit market continues to thrive due to overproduction and weak enforcement.

As Youth Forward notes, the state has now walked away from the “revenue-neutral” promise made when the cultivation tax was repealed in 2022. And communities that depended on these funds will feel the cuts first.

At Getting it Right from the Start, we believe California must honor Prop 64’s commitments and protect the programs voters were promised — not give away tax breaks that benefit industry at the expense of kids, families, and the environment.

Read the article: Capitol Weekly – “Bracing for the Fallout from W**d Tax Suspension”

When voters approved Proposition 64 and legalized adult use of ma*****na in the state, there was hope that the illegal market would cease to exist and tax dollars would flow into the state to fund youth education programs and more. Seven years later, the industry says it's struggling to stay afloat.

11/10/2025

URGENT: Congress Could Vote TODAY to Protect Kids and Public Health

A make-or-break vote in Congress could happen within hours — and it will determine whether the federal ban on h**p-derived intoxicants like Delta-8 THC stays in a crucial spending bill.

Big H**p’s allies, including Sen. Rand Paul, are trying to strip the ban out. This is our moment to stop them — and protect kids, families, and communities from the dangerous products that have flooded the market due to loopholes in the 2018 Farm Bill.

Our friends at Smart Approaches to Ma*****na have an action alert for this purpose. Please use it to Tell Congress: KEEP THE H**P BAN IN THE BILL: https://lnkd.in/g-9VHpNB

This isn’t theoretical — states and local governments are already dealing with the fallout. In our policy brief for California local governments, including the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, we detailed how AB 45, which legalized h**p-derived ingredients for human consumption, unintentionally opened the door to psychoactive h**p products masquerading as CBD.

Read our brief "Intoxicating H**p Products" to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g3a8DUmX

Federal lawmakers now have a crucial opportunity to correct this same mistake at the national level — and close the loophole that allowed an addiction industry to flourish unchecked.

**pBan

10/31/2025

New research underscores the urgency of protecting youth from cannabis-related harms: A new study published in To***co Control by researchers at UC San Diego finds that cannabis use among teens and young adults may be responsible for roughly 13% of new cases of regular to***co use in the U.S. — a concerning “reverse gateway” trend that challenges long-held assumptions about the relationship between these substances.

While this observational study does not prove causation, it reinforces a growing body of evidence that early cannabis use can increase risks for addiction, psychosis, and cognitive impairment — and now, potentially, to***co use.

At Getting it Right from the Start, we believe protecting youth from early exposure to cannabis is critical to preventing a lifetime of potential harms. That means stronger health warnings, limits on potency, restrictions on advertising and packaging that appeal to youth, and local authority to regulate retail access.

As cannabis becomes increasingly normalized, we must not lose sight of its risks — especially for young people whose brains and futures are still developing.

See story by Fox 5 San Diego: https://fox5sandiego.com/news/health/cannabis-to***co-gateway-effect/

Read the study in To***co Control (UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health): https://to***cocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2025/10/13/tc-2025-059634

***coControl *****na ***co

10/23/2025

Our New Fact Sheet: Understanding Today’s Cannabis Products

The increasing commercialization of cannabis in California — and nationally — has led to uncontrolled product diversification and skyrocketing THC potency. Today’s products look nothing like the cannabis of decades past, and that matters for health.

Our new fact sheet breaks down the science and explains the basics every consumer, parent, and policymaker should know about modern cannabis products — from buds and v**es to edibles and concentrates.

Some Key takeaways:
🔹 Potency matters — Concentrates can contain up to 99% THC, increasing the risk of addiction and psychosis.
🔹 Marketing misleads — Strain names like “cherry pie” or “gelato” are used mainly for branding and often target youth, not to guide consumer choice.
🔹 Inhalation isn’t harmless — Smoking and va**ng cannabis expose users to carcinogens and particulate matter, just like to***co.
🔹 Edibles pose unique risks — With delayed onset and high doses, over-intoxication is common, especially among inexperienced users.
🔹 While intoxicating h**p products are illegal in California, they remain widely sold online — often with no age verification.
🔹 Youth access is rising — In our research, over half of 16–17-year-olds who used cannabis said they got it from legal sources. A Public Health Institute study found that: 54% of 16–17-year-olds who used cannabis got it from legal sources (stores, delivery, or adults purchasing for them). 60% also reported buying from dealers.

As with to***co and alcohol, the more potent, flavored, and aggressively marketed these products become, the greater the risk to young people and public health.

Read our full fact sheet to understand how these products are made, what they contain, and why strong, science-based regulations are essential to protect youth and communities.

https://www.gettingitrightfromthestart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Cannabis-Products-Factsheet_FN_10.21.25.pdf

10/17/2025

Our latest peer-reviewed study (i.e. Public Health Institute’s Getting it Right from the Start) in the International Journal of Drug Policy, co-authored with researchers from the UC Irvine School of Population and Public Health and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, uncovers a troubling reality:

Despite widespread local prohibitions on cannabis delivery in California, violations were common practice in 2021–2022. This lack of enforcement means that non-medical cannabis—and even deliveries to underage youth—were still occurring, undermining local protections.

Key findings:
- 97% of census block groups in California were reached by cannabis delivery businesses.
- Violations of local bans were frequent, even in areas that had explicitly prohibited non-medical delivery.
- Evidence of deliveries to 18–20 year-olds highlights the risks of underage access.

While Senate Bill 1186 has required jurisdiction to allow delivery of medical cannabis statewide, non-medical delivery bans remain in effect. Without proper enforcement, these bans are meaningless.

Our recommendation: Local governments must strengthen and enforce delivery restrictions, especially those to protect youth, and ensure cannabis regulations fulfill their public health purpose.

Read the full study here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395925003159?dgcid=coauthor

*****na

10/16/2025

We’re grateful to see our new peer-reviewed study featured in the Daily Review — examining how teen cannabis use in California has changed since legalization. Published in the Journal of Adolescent Health and co-authored by researchers from UC Irvine, Kaiser Permanente Research NorCal, and the Public Health Institute’s Getting it Right from the Start, the study analyzed data from more than 370,000 California teens.

The findings are clear:
➡️ Daily or near-daily cannabis use among 11th graders rose sharply after retail cannabis shops opened in 2018 — reversing a prior downward trend.
➡️ Youth use was consistently lower in cities that banned retail sales, compared to areas that allowed storefronts.

“This study shows that legalization has changed not just whether teens use cannabis, but how they use it,” said Bethany Simard, lead author and Research Scientist at PHI’s Getting it Right from the Start. “We’re seeing more young people using more often — exactly the pattern linked to dependence and long-term health risks.”

“Without strong local laws on access and limits on advertising and products that appeal to youth, we risk fueling a new wave of youth problem use that could have been prevented,” added Dr. Alisa Padon, Research Director and study co-author.

The study underscores an urgent need for stronger public health guardrails — including limits on youth-appealing marketing, high-potency products, and easy access through delivery systems.

Read the full story in The Daily Review here: https://www.dailyrepublic.com/news/study-daily-pot-use-by-teens-on-the-rise-greater-health-risks/article_7f4b0bf4-bc9a-4ba8-9b6a-b13b3ac5a55f.html #:~:text=A%20ma*****na%20plant%20is%20cultivated,health%20risks%2C%E2%80%9D%20Simard%20said

*****na

FAIRFIELD — A new study showed that daily use of ma*****na among teens is on the rise – leading researchers to call for "stronger guardrails" to protect against "more frequent,

10/15/2025

Our latest study on youth cannabis use featured by FOX 5 San Diego

We’re proud to see our new peer-reviewed study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health and co-authored by researchers from UC Irvine and UCLA, covered by FOX 5 San Diego.

The study found that daily or near-daily cannabis use among California 11th graders has been steadily rising since legalization in 2018—reversing a previous downward trend. Local policies make a difference:

Jurisdictions that banned retail cannabis sales consistently had lower rates of youth use, while rates stayed higher in places that newly allowed storefront sales.

As more potent cannabis products flood the market, these findings highlight the urgent need for strong local and state safeguards to protect young people’s health.

Read the coverage from FOX 5 San Diego: https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/cannabis-use-california-teenagers/

*****na

A peer-reviewed study found that frequent cannabis use among 11th graders in California has been steadily rising since adult-use cannabis retailers legally opened throughout the state in 2018, with…

10/13/2025

New Study: Frequent Cannabis Use Rose Among California Teens

A new peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Adolescent Health — led by researchers from UC Irvine, UCLA, and PHI’s Getting it Right from the Start — finds that frequent cannabis use among 11th graders rose sharply after California opened adult-use cannabis retailers in 2018.

While overall past-30-day use leveled off, daily or near-daily use climbed steadily, reversing earlier declines. Teens aren’t just using more—they’re using more often and more intensely, raising serious health risks.

Key findings:
- Frequent use increased after legalization, especially in communities allowing retail storefronts.
- Jurisdictions with retail bans had consistently lower youth use rates.

“We’re seeing more young people using more often — exactly the pattern linked to dependence and long-term health risks,” said Bethany Simard, PHI GIRFTS Research Scientist and lead author.

Getting it Right from the Start urges policymakers to:
✅ Strengthen delivery regulations to prevent underage access.
✅ Restrict high-potency and youth-appealing products.
✅ Enforce marketing and advertising limits.
✅ Restore funding for youth prevention programs.

“We can’t treat cannabis like any other consumer product,” said Dr. Alisa Padon, GIRFTS Research Director. “Without strong local laws and product limits, we risk fueling a new wave of youth problem use that could have been prevented.”

Read the full study in the Journal of Adolescent Health: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1054139X25004173?dgcid=coauthor

10/09/2025

California Takes Another Step Toward Reining in Intoxicating H**p — But More Work Remains

Governor Newsom has signed AB 8 (Aguiar-Curry) — a complex but important bill supported by the cannabis industry that takes aim at California’s h**p problem. For years, intoxicating h**p products containing THC or synthetic cannabinoids have been sold widely — often in v**e and smoke shops and online, often massive THC doses, and with little oversight, age verification, or safety testing.

These products exploited loopholes in the 2018 Farm Bill, undermining public health and California’s regulated cannabis market. In California 2024 emergency regulations banned intoxicating h**p products with any detectable THC, whether synthetic or natural.

AB 8:
- Codifies ban on synthetic cannabinoids
- Codifies ban on sale of intoxicating h**p
- Defines h**p products with THC as cannabis
- Extends cannabis taxes to any h**p sold through the cannabis system
- Strengthens ban on inhalable h**p products
- Allows integration of certain h**p products into cannabis supply chain

However, AB 8 does not prohibit the manufacture for export of inhalable h**p. Why should we burden other states with products we prohibit for Californians?

The bill also places new demands on the Department of Cannabis Control, which is already under strain, and will require strong statewide enforcement—especially in smoke and v**e shops, where intoxicating h**p sales continue to occur illegally.

Still, AB 8 codifies some key protections that had only existed in emergency regulations. The pending permanent regulations are still urgently needed to fill the gap before AB 8 provisions go into effect.

Now, California must follow through with robust enforcement, better testing, age verification, and renewed federal reform to close the Farm Bill loophole for good.

**p

10/07/2025

A Victory for Public Health: Governor Newsom Signs SB 378 into Law!

We at Getting it Right from the Start applaud Governor Newsom’s signature on SB 378 (Weiner) — an important step toward reining in the dangerous loophole that has allowed unregulated, high-THC h**p products to flood the market, often sold and advertised to youth with little oversight.

For years, the intoxicating h**p market has exploited the 2018 Farm Bill’s gaps. These products often exceed California’s legal THC limits, contain synthetic cannabinoids, and bypass the safeguards required in the regulated cannabis system. Many are marketed in ways that appeal to kids, with no age verification, no clear labeling, and no consumer protections.

A key study revealed that 88% of h**p products sold online failed to meet state standards, with THC levels far exceeding what’s allowed in California and many products containing extremely potent synthetics like THCP (as much as 30× more potent than natural THC).

SB 378 addresses this by:
✅ Holding online sellers and platforms accountable for facilitating illegal h**p/cannabis sales
✅ Providing tools and authority to enforce state laws against illegal products
✅ Supporting legal cannabis businesses that play by the rules

SB 378 is necessary — but it’s not sufficient by itself. To truly protect public health and youth, we must continue pushing for:
- Federal reform to close loopholes in the Farm Bill so that intoxicating h**p is no longer exempt from oversight
- Establish a clear THC threshold — any product above a minimal potency (e.g., >1 mg per serving or 10 mg per package) should be regulated as cannabis, not h**p.
- Ban synthetic or chemically converted cannabinoids (like delta-8, THCO, THCP) that are not naturally occurring in h**p.
- Require age verification for all online h**p sales and prohibit marketing or packaging appealing to minors.

This milestone proves that change is possible when public health is centered. Let’s build on this momentum — for safer communities, clearer standards, and protections that go farther.

**pRegulation **p

10/01/2025

Governor Newsom: Its Time to Act on Internet Sales of Illegal Cannabis and Intoxicating High-THC H**p Products

SB 378 (Wiener) has now passed the California Legislature with overwhelming support. This bill helps hold accountable websites and tech platforms that sell illegal cannabis and intoxicating h**p closes a dangerous loophole. These products flooding our state are widely sold online to youth with little or no effective age verification, products that often far exceed California’s legal THC limits, and frequently contain synthetic cannabinoids up to 30x more potent than natural Delta-9-THC.

One recent study found that 88% of h**p products sold online failed to meet state standards. Many are packaged to mimic candy and snacks, putting kids directly at risk. These illicit sales not only endanger public health but also undermine California’s legal cannabis market, which follows strict rules and testing.

SB 378 will:
- Help hold online sellers and platforms accountable for facilitating illegal h**p and cannabis sales
- Provide tools to better enforce California’s cannabis and h**p protections
- Support legal, regulated businesses playing by the rules

Governor Newsom, now is the moment to stand up for California families, youth, and consumers - and legal cannabis and h**p operators. Please sign SB 378 into law.

**p *****na

09/23/2025

California’s Cannabis Tax Cuts: A Win for Industry, a Loss for Kids and Communities

Governor Newsom has signed AB 564, locking in a major cannabis tax cut through 2028. While celebrated by industry lobbyists, coverage from CBS Sacramento rightly underscores what’s missing in this conversation: the devastating consequences for children, families, and the environment.

As our own Dr. Lynn Silver, Public Health Institute’s Getting it Right from the Start, told CBS:

“The biggest single use from these taxes is to fund childcare costs for foster kids, emergency childcare for low-income families. All of those activities will be significantly reduced by this.”

This bill isn’t just a “lifeline” for cannabis businesses — it’s a broken promise to California voters who passed Prop 64 on the assurance that cannabis taxes would fund prevention, child care, environmental restoration, and law enforcement.

Instead of addressing the real drivers of the illicit market — overproduction and weak enforcement — lawmakers have chosen to cut $180M a year from programs that protect kids and communities.

Watch the coverage: https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/newsom-reverses-tax-hike-california-cannabis-industry/

*****na

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill canceling a planned 25% tax hike on legal cannabis in California.