Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Health Care
  •  

Tobacco And Nicotine Research Center To Open At California University

  •  Sammy Caiola 
Thursday, August 2, 2018 | Sacramento, CA
File / Charles Rex Arbogast /AP
 

File / Charles Rex Arbogast /AP

The first tobacco and nicotine research center to come out of the California tobacco tax is about to open at UC Merced.

The UC Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center has a $3.8 million grant to study the public health impacts of both tobacco and marijuana, with a focus on the San Joaquin Valley. The funding comes from Proposition 56, the two-dollar-per-pack tobacco tax increase that took effect in 2017.

Anna Song, a UC Merced health psychology professor, will direct the project, which is expected to be up and running this fall.

“The center is a representation of basically experts in the community as well as the science coming together to address our regional issues,” she said.

Though it’s backed by state dollars, Song said the center will focus pretty specifically on the San Joaquin Valley, with the goal of sharing research with experts throughout California.

Researchers want to know who is using tobacco and marijuana, how they’re consuming it, and how it affects long-term health. They’ll also explore the rise in youth users and the prevalence of e-cigs and other devices.

Song said the overlap between tobacco and marijuana, and how certain policies — for example, smoke-free cities — affect either or both substances, opens new doors for research.

“We felt it’s really important to look at both [cannabis and tobacco], and see how the behaviors intersect with each other and to understand going forward how the impact of one might influence the other,” she said.

The center also hopes to train youth to identify public health issues around tobacco and marijuana and advocate for policy changes.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 tobacco tax

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sammy Caiola

Former Healthcare Reporter

Sammy Caiola has been covering medical breakthroughs, fitness fads and health policy in California since 2014. Before joining CapRadio, Sammy was a health reporter at The Sacramento Bee.  Read Full Bio 

 @sammycaiola Email Sammy Caiola

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Health Care Stories

 Massimiliano Finzi/Getty Images

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

July 1, 2022

Most Viewed

One dead, 4 injured in Downtown Sacramento shooting

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

One dead, 4 injured in Downtown Sacramento shooting

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.