Parabola Center for Law and Policy

Join us for a timely conversation exploring how public health can play a central role in shaping cannabis policy. This 90-minute webinar will bring together experts across assessment, assurance, and policy development to examine cannabis through the lens of the 10 Essential Public Health Services. Register now: https://lnkd.in/em3jCVjY We’ll break down the latest research, funding gaps, and data on cannabis use, while also highlighting efforts to build an equitable public health workforce, educate communities, and develop policies that put people—not profits—first. Together, we’ll reimagine what it means to integrate cannabis into broader health and policy decisions with equity, harm reduction, and public health at the forefront. Speakers will share insights and strategies, followed by a moderated discussion and audience Q&A. This session is ideal for public health professionals, policymakers, cannabis legalization supporters, and advocates committed to smarter, people-first policy. This event is organized and moderated by?Meredith McGee, Parabola Center Leader and MPH candidate at Yale University and features Chelsea Higgs Wise, Tauhid Chappell, Jane Appleyard Allen, and Jim Seaberg, MPH.

SOUND ON?? Did you know that Parabola Center’s approach is inspired by the drug policy parabola theory created by Dr. John Marks almost 50 years ago? We were lucky enough to land a rare interview with Dr. Marks last year. Watch with SOUND ON to hear his comments with Parabola’s Meredith McGee. Dr. Marks’s theories on corporate influence, policy education, and public perception are major influences on the way we think about drug policy today. Indeed, they show that these issues are timeless. How we deal with these questions—before and after legalization—remains a foreseeable and deliberate policy choice.

What's one way that corporate cannabis gets away with making claims that violate state rules? By taking advantage of the fact that cannabis remains federally illegal, leaving state regulators with the monumental task of enforcing most of the rules by themselves. A The New York Times investigation out this week reviewed 20 of the largest cannabis brands and found that most were selling products with unproven health claims, potentially violating federal and state regulations. As Parabola Center co-founder and former Massachusetts regulator Shaleen Title put it, “You’re supposed to be the Food and Drug Administration, you’re supposed to be the Federal Trade Commission, you’re supposed to be the Labor Board, you’re supposed to be every agency in one." This is why we need a federal legalization model that protects social equity and allows for robust enforcement. Bad actors in cannabis hope that state regulators with minimal resources will fail to enforce the rules so they can maximize profits, while bad actors in industries like tobacco are waiting in the wings, hoping that national legalization will give them a free-for-all. This type of original reporting is essential for fostering accountability and informed policymaking, and we hope to see more investigations like this, enriching dialogue and informing the debate about the future of cannabis. Read here (gift link): https://lnkd.in/eE5pzTQm

In this webinar, you will get to hear from drug policy experts Shaleen Title, Director of Parabola Center for Law and Policy, Victoria Litman, M.Div., J.D, LL.M, professor at Roger Williams School of Law, and Graham Moore, Educational Outreach Director at Massachusetts for Mental Health Options. This webinar is organized and moderated by Margeaux Lavoie, Social Equity Fellow at the Parabola Center for Law and Policy and 3L Law Student at University of Maine School of Law. We will first discuss what happened in Massachusetts with Question 4, a ballot initiative intended to legalize psychedelics in the state. Then we will move to discussing Amendment 3 in Florida, which would have?legalized cannabis for possession, purchase, and recreational use in Florida for adults 21 years or older. Both pieces of legislation failed this election cycle. Join us to discuss what went wrong and where we can go from here. Register Here!: https://bit.ly/492rltF?

?? Parabola Center apparel is back! Purchase a long-sleeve t-shirt, made by WITHAC Apparel and designed by Savina Lara, on our website while supplies last: https://lnkd.in/e4pUEdNg

Check out the recent statement from our partners Kassandra Frederique and Cat Packer of DPA - Drug Policy Alliance: https://lnkd.in/eYxwvBWC

For the first time, cannabis is popular enough to warrant election-season attention from both parties. But both campaigns are missing a crucial point: Most Americans oppose corporate cannabis monopolies.” Read the latest opd-ed in Marijuana Moment from Parabola Center’s William “KC” Klens and Shaleen Title: Trump And Harris Need To Stop Pandering On Marijuana And Offer Concrete Plans For An Equitable Industry: https://lnkd.in/gBXPYCxh

We’re excited to welcome The Growv as a Parabola Partner! The Growv is a regulatory compliance platform and knowledge center built to empower cannabis companies and allow them to grow confidently. It's on a mission to level the cannabis playing field by building first-in-class knowledge designed to make information accessible and contextualize regulatory compliance. Learn more about The Growv & the Parabola Center Partner network at https://lnkd.in/eqNmH6_G

Being a part of this was a huge highlight of my summer. Having cannabis advocates like Chelsea Higgs Wise, Tauhid Chappell, Jason Ortiz, Drudys “Dru” Ledbetter, and more come from all over the country to downtown Providence to learn about cannabis equity shows how powerful this movement is. Thank you again Shaleen Title, Laury Lucien, Shanel Lindsay, J.D., and Danielle Schumacher for choosing Providence. Can't wait until next year already!

Check out this piece authored by Eve Marie Santana on behalf of Motif Magazine! If you missed Parabola Center for Law and Policy Anti-Monopoly Crash Course & Leadership Training, read this recap to learn about the equity movement going on in cannabis. https://lnkd.in/eg_BgTcQ