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.

‘I smoked weed like it was crack’: The addiction crisis no one’s talking about

In this powerful article in the SF Standard, our own Dr. Lynn Silver of Getting it Right from the Start/Public Health Institute notes, “You had exaggerated allegations like ‘Reefer Madness’: ‘One joint is going to make you go crazy!’ That almost discredited the discussion of psychosis. But oh, man, talk to the emergency room doctors.”

Read Article

Current Study: Assessing Barriers to Community Engagement in Cannabis Policy

We are recruiting for a survey assessing barriers to community engagement in cannabis policy among behavioral and public health professionals. This research is funded by the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), the University of California Office of the President (UCOP).

For more information, including invitations to participate, please email Ryan Whitacre, PhD, rwhitacre@phi.org.

 

Proposed California Bill aims to give tax relief to cannabis retailers in hopes of strengthening legal pot industry

By Mina Wahab, KEYT Channel 3-12, March 25, 2025

Getting it Right from the Start’s Dr. Lynn Silver speaks with KEYT’s Mina Wahab about how California’s cannabis market is saturated, not overtaxed and cutting taxes under AB 564 (Haney) would slash $150-$180M from critical childcare and enviro programs. Dr. Silver notes, “AB 564 would gut funding for kids’ programs, including in Santa Barbara County, while Big Cannabis blames taxes for its struggles. The real issue? Overproduction & a saturated market.”

Read Article

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

The Race for All-Powerful Pot

By Megan Twohey (and others), New York Times, January 27, 2025
The New York Times’s Megan Twohey and co. takes a deep dive into $32 billion cannabis industry’s race to the bottom. Stiizy and other brands are pushing higher-potency THC products, driving down prices at the cost of public health – fueling addiction, psychosis, and other health risks. Our own Dr. Lynn Silver is featured, explaining the cannabis industry’s effectiveness in portraying itself as a “safe, natural wellness product,” noting, “There’s little awareness of how much the product has actually changed, of how industrialized and increasingly hazardous it’s become.”
Read Report

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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Join our Listserv and be part of a dedicated community of public health advocates, regulatory officials, parents, concerned citizens, research scientists, medical professionals, and policymakers.

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Sign up for our action alerts and join the movement to create a safer legal cannabis marketplace without driving up harmful consumption.

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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.

GetItRightonMJ
getitrightonmj Getting it Right from the Start @getitrightonmj ·
14 Feb

#SocialMedia flooded w. #cannabis ads teens see/like/share—despite laws agst targeting youth. ...@Phidotorg/@GetItRightonMJ’s Dr. Padon: “Businesses post ads on their pages, & youth bypass age restrictions to engage with them.”

@HealthDayTweets/@CBS19News:

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getitrightonmj Getting it Right from the Start @getitrightonmj ·
13 Feb

#Cannabis ads are using #tobacco & alcohol’s playbook—flavors, fun imagery & young-looking sales reps—to ...hook youth. “The marketing we see in CA looks just like #alcohol & e-cigarette ads,” says our Alisa Padon in @CNN’s coverage of our study.

@koamfox14:

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getitrightonmj Getting it Right from the Start @getitrightonmj ·
12 Feb

Big News! @CNN covered our new study with @UCLACannabis in @ijdrugpolicy on how #cannabis ads fuel youth interest in ...use. @PHIdotorg’s @GetItRightonMJ research director Alisa Padon: “It’s a perfect storm, & regulators are doing nothing about it.”

Article:

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