Building Tobacco Control and Cannabis Policy Capacity and Partnerships in Rural California.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community-Engaged Research
• Health Policy

Background:

• The Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center (NCPC) Community Core partnered with organizations to boost policy capacity in a rural California region.
• Community-engaged research principles were used to expand networks and foster co-learning for policy impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To increase policy capacity and community involvement in tobacco and cannabis control.
• To enhance policy impact through co-learning and networking opportunities for diverse stakeholders.

Main Methods:

• Organized four in-person workshops (2018-2019, 2023) covering policy expertise, strategy development, messaging, and legislative updates.
• Conducted six virtual webinars (2020-2021) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Established a message board, created researcher videos, and trained youth social media interns.

Main Results:

• In-person workshops were identified as the most effective engagement method.
• Social media and message boards demonstrated limited engagement.
• The collaborative approach enhanced knowledge, resources, and expertise among participating organizations.

Conclusions:

• Partnerships between local, state, and national organizations effectively improved tobacco and cannabis control in an underserved region.
• Community-engaged research and targeted in-person training are vital for enhancing policy capacity and involvement.