State and Local Tobacco Control Policy Research

TRDRP supports critical health policy research needed to inform the state’s tobacco control activities and improve the care for Californians with tobacco-related diseases. Research is needed to advance the ability of state agencies, legislative and regulatory bodies and local governments throughout California to evaluate, understand and implement science-informed tobacco control policy.  In particular, research on the potential economic and other impacts of ending the sale and use of commercial tobacco products is needed in support of the California Endgame Initiative. 

Examples of relevant research topics:  

• Evaluation of state and local tobacco regulations and their impacts on public health and the local economy such as:
  • regulation of menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products
  • intended and unintended consequences of state and local tobacco laws
  • changes to the tobacco and vapor retail environment in response to recent laws

• Evaluations of how cannabis control policy interacts with and potentially undermines tobacco control policy
• Characterizing evidence-informed policy approaches that support stronger local smoke-free ordinances and protect youth from tobacco and cannabis marketing
• Examination of effective communication approaches to inform policy in support of the CA Endgame Initiative 

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Research questions in support of the California Endgame Initiative

• How does the elimination of flavored tobacco product sales in a community impact retailing in the community overall? 
• In jurisdictions that have instituted bans on certain tobacco products: How did retailers transition from selling tobacco products? How did retailers change their inventory to compensate for the loss of tobacco sales, if at all? Which resources from the city/county/local jurisdiction were helpful? What would be helpful to support retailers through this transition in other jurisdictions? Which unintended consequences are retailers most concerned about?
• What are the healthcare and environmental cost impacts attributable to state and local tobacco product restriction policies (e.g., reduction in healthcare costs due to treating tobacco-related diseases and concomitant chronic diseases, decreases in second and thirdhand smoke and reductions in tobacco product waste)? 
• In which instances does cessation support accompany new tobacco prevention and control policies? Does it contribute to the success/failure/acceptance/rejection of these policies?
• How can California tobacco prevention and control efforts be maintained amid declining tax funds due to a decrease in the use of tobacco products?
• Which health communication strategies and message frames best increase the success of prevention efforts and cessation interventions, improve understanding of health impacts of tobacco use or facilitate other tobacco control messaging (e.g. framing around public health benefits, economic benefits, environmental benefits, or social justice) for the different audiences in the state (e.g. the public, incl. tobacco priority populations, policymakers, retailers)?

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