ADAI and Policy Initiatives

ADAI researchers and staff routinely respond to requests from policymakers and community partners to integrate subject matter expertise into policy development. This work can involve presenting at educational hearings, preparing policy briefs, and delivering testimony to legislators.

In these settings, ADAI experts share information about emerging issues, provide scientific evidence to guide health promotion and treatment strategies, and offer specialized knowledge on cannabis, opioids, stimulants, and other substances.

Through these efforts, ADAI helps shape policies that advance public health and address real-world challenges.

Learn more about some of our policy work through the resources below.

Cannabis

Reports

• Assessing Engagement in Cannabis Policy: A Survey of Washington State Elected Officials (2025). ADAI CERP team: Kellum LB, Carlini BH, Garrett S.
• High THC Policy Final Report to the Washington State Legislature: Exploring Policy Solutions to Address Public Health Challenges of High THC Products (2022). ADAI CERP team.

Journal articles

• State requirements for non-medical US cannabis retail personnel (2024). LoParco CR, et al. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 30(4), 517-525.
• Identifying policy options to regulate high potency cannabis: A multiple stakeholder concept mapping study in Washington State, USA (2024). Carlini BH, et al. International Journal of Drug Policy, 123, 104270.
• How should policymakers regulate the tetrahydrocannabinol content of cannabis products in a legal market [opinion]? (2023). Hall W, Leung J, Carlini BH. Addiction, 118(6), 998-1003.

Webinars / Symposia

• ADAI Cannabis Research Symposia panels & presentations related to policy (CERP team):
  • Promising policies to reduce onset and progression of psychotic disorders in U.S. states with legal cannabis markets (2024). Carlini B.
  • Regulatory considerations and challenges for cannabis products with high THC concentration (2022). Schauer G.
  • How to address high THC cannabis products’ risks and harms: Perspectives of Washington stakeholders (2022). Carlini B.
  • Comments (on high THC cannabis in legal regulated markets) from policymakers (2022). State Reps. Lauren Davis and Shelly Kloba, State Sen. Jesse Salomon
  • Marijuana policies: What matters for influencing public health (2016). Pacula R.
  • Marijuana legislation panel: Implementation challenges and opportunities (2016). Cooke M, Garza R, Baumgartner C, Ramirez R, Harris A.

Health supports for people who use drugs

• Improve Lives, Prevent Deaths: Guide for Community Organizations & Policymakers with Actionable Strategies for Preventing Overdose (2025). ADAI CEDEER team.
• CEDEER’s Dr. Caleb Banta-Green’s 2025 testimony at the WA State Legislature in support of HB 1574, protecting access to life-saving care and substance use services (2025).
• Safe Supply Work Group: Final Recommendations (2024).
• Policies, adaptations, and ongoing challenges to naloxone, buprenorphine and nonprescription syringe access across four-states: Findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews (2024). Floyd AS, et al. Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 11, 100243.

Low-barrier health & treatment access

• Press Release: Cantwell Introduces Bill to Take WA-Developed, Low-Barrier Fentanyl Treatment Pilot Program Nationwide (2024).
• U.S. drug-overdose legislation has roots at UW (2024). UW Medicine Newsroom (interview with CEDEER’s Dr. Banta-Green).
• Could WA’s health ‘hub’ model for opioid addiction go nationwide? (2024). Deng G. Washington State Standard.

Treatment

• Expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder: Federal policy is only a part of the solution [editorial] (2024). Heidari O & Banta-Green CJ. American Journal of Public Health, 114(7), 693-695)
• What most of us think about opioid treatment is wrong, researcher [Banta-Green] says (2023). Shapiro N. Seattle Times.
• Substance use is a health issue, not a legal one (2022). Banta-Green CJ. Seattle Times.
• Co-producing evidence-informed criminal legal re-entry policy with the community: an application of policy codesign (2022). Owens MD, et al. Evidence & Policy, 18(2), 365-375.

Other work

• Children are safer when families are supported – not separated [opinion] (2025). Stoner S. Seattle Times.