# Joint impacts of local alcohol and cannabis policies and outlet densities on violence

> **NIH NIH K99** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $170,892

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This K99/R00 proposal examines the joint impacts of local alcohol and cannabis policies on violence in
California before and after recreational cannabis legalization in 2018. Self-directed and interpersonal violence
are leading causes of death and injury in the United States. Changes in alcohol and cannabis use, driven by
state cannabis legalization policies, may be important but unrecognized contributors to these outcomes.
Alcohol’s role in violence is well established. Evidence on cannabis’ effects on violence is limited and mixed.
Cannabis legalization could lower rates of alcohol-related violence through cannabis-alcohol substitution.
Existing research on cannabis legalization often focuses on state-level variation. However, most states defer to
city and county governments to implement cannabis legalization policies, including determining where outlets
are located. Local control results in enormous local-level heterogeneity in local policies and outlet density. High
geographic density of alcohol outlets increases rates of violence; recent studies report similar patterns for
cannabis outlets. In legalizing states, cannabis outlets are being disproportionately co-located with alcohol
outlets in low-socioeconomic status (SES) communities. However, no studies examine if and how local alcohol
and cannabis policies together contribute to intoxicant saturation (i.e., high densities of both alcohol and
cannabis outlets) in low-SES communities. Further, there is no evidence on whether co-located cannabis and
alcohol outlets interact to affect the health of community residents.
We will perform quasi-experimental geospatial analyses of publicly-derived policy, outlet, and administrative
health data to: (1) assess how alcohol and cannabis policies in 241 California cities and counties impact outlet
density and geographic co-location; (2) determine the interactive effects of alcohol and cannabis outlet
densities on rates of emergency department visits, inpatient hospitalizations, and deaths due to self-harm and
assault throughout California; (3) evaluate how the relationships documented above contribute to disparities in
alcohol and cannabis outlet co-location, densities, and effects on self-harm and assault.
The research plan is complemented by an exceptional mentorship team and training plan at the University of
California, San Francisco and NIAAA-funded Prevention Research Center. The plan builds on the applicant’s
background in violence prevention research and includes new training in alcohol and drug use as contributors
to violence, alcohol and drug control policies, and geospatial statistical methods. The combined research and
training plans will prepare the applicant for a successful independent epidemiology research career focused on
how to design optimal alcohol and drug policies to prevent violence and reduce health disparities.
This research aligns with NIAAA’s strategic goal to evaluate the effectiveness and implementa...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9950776
- **Project number:** 1K99AA028256-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Ellicott Colson Matthay
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $170,892
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9950776

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9950776, Joint impacts of local alcohol and cannabis policies and outlet densities on violence (1K99AA028256-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9950776. Licensed CC0.

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