FAMILY & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: October 13, 2025
Subject: Annual Report on the Implementation of the Cannabis School-Based Education Program
Submitted For: Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Health Services
Department: Health Services
Referral No: N/A
Referral Name: N/A
Presenter: Suzanne Tavano, PhD, Director of Behavioral Health; and Fatima Matal Sol, Alcohol and Other Drugs Program Chief
Contact: Jason Chan, (925) 655-2050
Referral History:
Following the voter approved Proposition 64 (Prop 64), which legalized adult recreational use of marijuana, there have been several actions taken by the Board of Supervisors intended to regulate commercial activity of cannabis in the unincorporated areas of the County. Such efforts are in place to protect youth from exposure to and use of an emerging line of tobacco and cannabis products that are harmful to youth. Post legalization of cannabis for recreational use, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of tobacco/cannabis vaping products by youth. Some of the actions taken by the Board included the adoption of the Cannabis Land Use Ordinance to regulate commercial cannabis activities and personal cannabis cultivation in the unincorporated areas of the county along with the Cannabis Health Ordinance.
On February 23, 2023, the Family and Human Services (FHS) Committee accepted the annual reports on the Policy Options for Protecting Youth from Tobacco Influences in the Retail Environment and the Secondhand Smoke Protections ordinances, including program and funding recommendations for cannabis education; and directing staff to forward the reports to the Board of Supervisors for their information as recommended by the Health Department and Public Health Officer. At the February 23, 2023 FHS meeting, CCH staff presented four cannabis education, outreach, and support programs. FHS approved the reports and department recommendations, moving forward to the full Board for further discussion. Additionally, CCH staff were encouraged to identify funding sources for recommended programs.
On June 27, 2023, after additional analysis, CCH staff determined that only one program should move forward, and this program was presented to the Board of Supervisors. CCH staff recommended the expansion of existing youth cannabis prevention and education programs in schools. The department requested that the Board consider allocating Fiscal Year 23/24 cannabis tax revenues that had not been allocated through the recommended budget. Approval of the tax revenues provided funding to support a contract between the Contra Costa County Office of Education and the County through Behavioral Health Division’s Alcohol and Other Drugs Services (AODS) to expand existing intervention efforts at the school-based level offered through the Contra Costa County Office of Education Tobacco Use Prevention and Education (TUPE) Program. At the time of the report the Family and Human Services (FHS) Committee, the total dollar amount of cannabis revenue since the business licenses had been issued was approximately $191,821 for FY 2022-2023, and these monies were approved to fund a youth cannabis education in the schools through TUPE.
Referral Update:
Please see the attached report and presentation materials for updates on the implementation of the cannabis school-based education program.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
ACCEPT the annual report from the Health Services Department with updates on the implementation of the cannabis school-based education program, and DIRECT staff to forward the report to the Board of Supervisors for their information.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
There is no fiscal impact for this action.