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The overall aim of this study is to examine vape shop business operations during COVID-19 among a cohort of 88 vape shops in the Greater Los Angeles area in Southern California, located in ethnically diverse communities. A total of six web- and/or phone-based assessments were conducted over a 12-week period (April 1, 2020-June 10, 2020), extending from the mandated closure of nonessential businesses (Stage 1; Assessments 1-3) to the reopening of nonessential sectors (Stage 2; Assessments 4-6), to evaluate business operations (open and closure statuses). The proportion of vape shops found to be noncompliant with the Governor's executive order (i.e., open) during Stage 1 gradually increased from 54 (61.4%) at Assessment 1 (week of April 1, 2020) to 58 (65.9%) at Assessment 3 (week of April 29, 2020). Moreover, vape shops located in Hispanic/Latino and Korean/Asian communities (vs. those in non-Hispanic White and African American communities) were more likely to stay open both during and after the shutdown at Assessments 1 and 6. More specifically, vape shops located in Hispanic/Latino communities were significantly more likely to offer walk-in service during Assessment 1 (during the shutdown), and vape shops in Hispanic/Latino and Korean/Asian were significantly more likely to offer walk-in service during Assessment 6 (after the re-opening). This study demonstrates high rates of noncompliance with shutdown orders among vape shops located in ethnic communities, thus suggesting higher contextual risk factors of COVID-19 exposure among certain ethnic communities.

Background: As of May 2023, 23 states and Washington, DC have legalized the sale of cannabis for adults aged 21+, and 38 states, three territories, and D.C. have legalized medical cannabis. Exposure to cannabis retailers could increase adolescent cannabis use. Few studies have examined the impact of residential proximity to cannabis retailers on adolescent cannabis use, and previous findings are inconsistent. Methods: This study examined associations between proximity to cannabis retailers and past 30-day cannabis use. Data were from Project Cal Teens, a statewide survey of California adolescents regarding cannabis-related opinions/behaviors (N = 1406, mean age = 15.5 years, 48% female, 38% Hispanic/Latinx, 33% White, 15% Asian/Pacific Islander, 10% Black/African American, 5% Other/Multiracial). Participants were recruited via schools/social media in 2018–2020. Results: For every additional 5 driving miles to the nearest cannabis retailer, the risk of past 30-day cannabis use was reduced by 3.6% [IRR: 0.964; 95% CI: 0.935–0.994]. For every additional 5 miles from a licensed retailer, the risk of past 30-day cannabis use was reduced by 4.3% [IRR: 0.957; 95% CI: 0.926–0.989]. Interaction analyses revealed that among Hispanic/Latinx students, every 5 miles from a licensed retailer was associated with an 11.9% reduction in the risk of past 30-day cannabis use [IRR: 0.881; 95% CI: 0.820–0.945]. Conclusions: As the number of cannabis retailers in the U.S. increases with the continued legalization of adult cannabis use, research examining the effects of these policies on underage use is crucial. Interventions could include enforcement of zoning laws in/near residential areas to reduce accessibility of adolescents to cannabis retailers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis use among adolescents may have detrimental effects and use among this age group is increasing. It is important to understand how expansion of laws permitting cannabis sales may impact adolescent use. Much of the current research has explored how state-level policy decisions may impact adolescents' use behaviors; however, there is a gap in the understanding of how differences in local jurisdictional policies may also influence underage cannabis use. Procedures: The present study cross-sectionally assesses local variation in cannabis policies to explore the potential effects of local policy on underage use behaviors. Data were collected from (N = 1,573) adolescents representing 120 different localities across California, collected as a part of Project Cal Teens. Linear regression models were used to assess associations between local jurisdiction's allowance of retail sale of cannabis for adult-use and past 30-day use of non-medical (adult use) cannabis and perceived access to cannabis products. Local policy allowing cannabis retail was associated with adolescents' significantly higher past 30-day use of cannabis (β = 0.25 95% CI = 0.08, 0.42) and perceived access (β = 0.60 95% CI = 0.27, 0.94). Results highlight the impact of local cannabis policies on adolescent cannabis use and perception. Considering the effects of cannabis use on adolescent development, this is an important public health concern because 14 states have already legalized recreational retail sales and growing numbers of local jurisdictions are allowing the retail sale of recreational cannabis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Proposal for Strengthening Medical School Training in STD Prevention Techniques ONE OF THE MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH OBJECTIVES is the prevention and control of sexually transmitted disease (STD) [1, 2]. […]

The process by which boys from different subcultures use racial and behavioral cues in establishing their preference for unfamiliar children was studied. Racial but not socioeconomic status differences in the use of behaviors as social cues was found. (Author/GK)

Thirty female undergraduates were tested for petty theft of a luxury shampoo in their dormitory shower room. In the testing situation, the S was either alone or in the presence of a bystander who either did or did not ascertain her identity. As predicted, Ss in the alone condition stole more shampoo than did those in the bystander conditions. There was, however, no reliable difference between the two bystander groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]