Neighborhood demographics in relation to marketing and regulation-related factors among cannabis retailers in 5 US cities.

Objectives: This study assessed differences in cannabis retailer practices by neighborhood sociodemographics, which can inform disparity-relevant interventions.

Methods: Multilevel multivariable logistic regressions examined retailers' census tract demographics (percent <21 years-old; non-Hispanic White, Black, or other race, Hispanic; median household income [MHHI]) in relation to 2022 audit data regarding marketing (youth-oriented signs, health-claims, exterior ads, price specials, membership programs, delivery/pick-up) and regulatory compliance (pregnancy and health-risk warning signage, exterior minimum-age signage) among 150 randomly-selected retailers in 5 US cities/states (Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, California).

Results: 20.

Evaluations of Compliance With California's First Tobacco Sales Bans and Tobacco Marketing in Restricted and Cross-Border Stores.

Introduction: Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach were the first California cities to end tobacco sales. Previous research assessed retailers' perceptions of the laws. This study is the first to evaluate compliance (Study 1), assess whether branded or unbranded tobacco cues remain, and examine cigarette prices/discounts in cross-border stores (Study 2).

Kratom availability in California vape shops.

Kratom products are derived from trees native to Southeast Asia and have dose-dependent stimulant and opioid-like effects. Despite being on the Drug Enforcement Administration "Drugs and Chemicals of Concern List," kratom is legal for sale in most US states. However, there are scarce data on its availability.

Rates of Age Verification for Cigarette and E-cigarette Purchases as a Function of State T21 Laws Before and After Implementation of the Federal T21 Law in the United States.

Introduction: In the US, having a 21 minimum legal sales age for tobacco (T21) at the state level may have impacted age verification of cigarette and e-cigarette purchases among U.S. young adults (ages 18-26), before and/or after federal T21 implementation.

Rapid-response surveillance of the first US test market for VLN cigarettes.

Introduction: VLN King menthol and non-menthol are the first combustible cigarettes to receive US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorisation as modified risk tobacco products. Focusing on the first retail test market, this study characterised VLN advertising, product placement, discounts and price.

Methods: All Chicago-area Circle K stores (n=133) were telephoned to assess whether they sold VLN.

State T21, Restrictions on Flavored E-Cigarette Products, and Non-Medical Cannabis Sales Legalization in Relation to Young Adult Reports of Vape Shop Age Verification and Product Offerings: A Multilevel Analysis.

Vape shop practices related to age verification and product offerings (e.g., other tobacco, cannabis), which may affect young-adult tobacco/substance use, are likely impacted by state-level policies (i.

The Impact of Recent Tobacco Regulations and COVID-19 Restrictions and Implications for Future E-Cigarette Retail: Perspectives from Vape and Vape-and-Smoke Shop Merchants.

Background: Tobacco regulations and COVID-19 state orders have substantially impacted vape retail. This study assessed vape retailers' perspectives regarding regulations and future retail activities.

Methods: In March-June 2021, 60 owners or managers of vape or vape-and-smoke shops ( = 34 vs.

Spatial Clustering of Hookah Lounges, Vape Shops, and All Tobacco Retailers Near Colleges.

Introduction: US college students smoke hookah and vape nicotine at higher rates than other young adults. Density and/or proximity of hookah lounges and vape shops near colleges has been described, but this study is the first to test whether tobacco retailers spatially cluster near college campuses.

Aims And Methods: We created and linked spatial shapefiles for community colleges and 4-year colleges in California with lists of hookah lounges, vape shops, and licensed tobacco retailers.

Underage sales signage in vape shops: Comparison of stores near and far from California colleges.

Two-thirds of U.S. colleges are near vape shops, where higher rates of underage sales exist.

Young people's e-cigarette risk perceptions, policy attitudes, and past-month nicotine vaping in 30 U.S. cities.

Background: This study examined young people's e-cigarette risk perceptions, policy attitudes, and past-month nicotine vaping in 30 US cities in relation to city e-cigarette retail policy.

Methods: Participants ages 13-20 were recruited online September-November 2020 (N = 900, approximately 30 per city). Cities (median population = 688,531) were in 23 states.

Are California's Local Flavored Tobacco Sales Restrictions Effective in Reducing the Retail Availability of Flavored Tobacco Products? A Multicomponent Evaluation.

Introduction: Flavored tobacco appeals to new users. This paper describes evaluation results of California's early ordinances restricting flavored tobacco sales.

Methods: A multicomponent evaluation of proximal policy outcomes involved the following: (a) tracking the reach of local ordinances; (b) a retail observation survey; and (c) a statewide opinion poll of tobacco retailers.

The changing retail landscape for tobacco: dollar stores and the availability of cheap cigarettes among tobacco-related priority populations.

Introduction: Dollar stores are rapidly altering the retail landscape for tobacco. Two of the three largest chains sell tobacco products in more than 24 000 stores across the USA. We sought to examine whether dollar stores are more likely to be located in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and whether dollar stores charge less for cigarettes than other tobacco retailers.

Perceived Susceptibility to and Seriousness of COVID-19: Associations of Risk Perceptions with Changes in Smoking Behavior.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have documented increased and decreased cigarette smoking among adults. Individual differences in the perceived susceptibility and seriousness of the virus, for people who smoke in general and for oneself personally, may relate to changes in smoking. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical framework, we examined associations with self-reported increasing and decreasing smoking a lot during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period.

Turning over a new leaf: Vape shop closings, openings and transitions in six U.S. Metropolitan statistical areas.

This study characterizes vape shop closings, openings, and changes in product mix in six U.S. metropolitan statistical areas with different tobacco and marijuana policies.

Association between density and proximity of tobacco retail outlets with smoking: A systematic review of youth studies.

Background: Reducing the retail availability of tobacco has been proposed as a component of tobacco endgame, yet it is not known whether retail availability has a direct impact on smoking behaviours. A narrative review and a meta-analysis have been undertaken to examine the density and proximity of tobacco retail outlets, but were limited in scope, exposure and outcome variables. The aim of this current study was to undertake a systematic review of the international literature on the density and proximity of tobacco retail outlets to homes, schools and communities and their association with smoking behaviours among youth.

Popularity of natural American Spirit cigarettes is greater in U.S. cities with lower smoking prevalence.

Background: Often perceived as a safer smoke, Natural American Spirit (NAS) may find particular appeal in communities with strong non-smoking norms. We hypothesized NAS would be more popular in cities with lower smoking prevalence, with the pattern unique to NAS. We tested household income, cigarette taxes, and young adult population as alternative correlates and examined brand specificity, relative to Marlboro and Pall Mall.

Mind the Gap: Changes in Cigarette Prices After California's Tax Increase.

Objective: To investigate whether California's 2017 cigarette tax increase was passed onto smokers equally.

Methods: Auditors recorded 4 cigarette prices in the same random sample of licensed tobacco retailers (N = 1049) before the tax increase (January-March 2017) and after (April-September 2018): Natural American Spirit (ultra-premium), Newport menthol (premium), and Pall Mall (value) all from the same manufacturer, and Marlboro (premium). Ordinary least squares regressions examined how the gap in prices (increase greater or less than $2.

Vape shop identification, density and place characteristics in six metropolitan areas across the US.

Vaping is increasingly prevalent and controversial. Vape shops and convenience stores are common but distinct sources of vaping products, and where they locate may reflect likely target markets. This study examined the density and neighborhood demographics of vape shops and convenience stores in six metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs): Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, San Diego, Seattle.

Retail Tobacco Marketing in Rural Versus Nonrural Counties: Product Availability, Discounts, and Prices.

. To assess tobacco product availability, advertised discounts, and prices in rural and nonrural stores, comparing results for two definitions of rural. This geospatial study linked data from marketing surveillance in a representative sample of licensed tobacco retailers in California ( = 1,276) and categorized rural/nonrural stores at the county and tract levels.

Assurances of Voluntary Compliance: A Regulatory Mechanism to Reduce Youth Access to E-Cigarettes and Limit Retail Tobacco Marketing.

To evaluate assurances of voluntary compliance (AVCs) between state attorneys general and retail chains by assessing e-cigarette sales to underage decoys and tobacco marketing violations in corporate-owned stores (that sign AVCs) and franchise stores (that do not sign AVCs). Decoys 18 to 19 years of age attempted to purchase e-cigarettes without presenting ID in California convenience stores (n = 540). Auditors characterized the presence and content of age-of-sale signage and advertising for tobacco products.

The Price of Natural American Spirit Relative to Other Cigarette Brands.

Introduction: American Spirit cigarettes feature American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) imagery in the branding and are marketed as environmentally friendly, without additives, and four varieties contain organic tobacco. This study is the first to examine retail price of American Spirit relative to other cigarette brands and to assess how its price varies by neighborhood demography.

Methods: In a random sample of licensed tobacco retailers (n = 1277), trained data collectors recorded availability and price of American Spirit, Pall Mall, Newport, Marlboro, and the cheapest cigarettes regardless of brand.

Concordance of Advertised Cigarette Prices with Purchase Receipts in the United States.

Objectives: Researchers and regulators study the advertised price of tobacco products to evaluate compliance with minimum price policies, tax increases, and geodemographic marketing. However, few studies report reliability of advertised price and none address its concordance with receipt price.

Methods: In a sample of US tobacco retailers (N=1972), data collectors purchased the leading brand of non-menthol or menthol cigarettes, recorded advertised prices, whether sales tax was included and price was discounted.

ENDS retailers and marketing near university campuses with and without tobacco-free policies.

Introduction: This study characterizes the retail environment for Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) near public universities in California, assesses marketing in the first random sample of ENDS retailers, and compares ENDS retailer density and retail marketing near campuses with and without tobacco-free policies.

Methods: Two data sources were used to construct a sampling frame of possible ENDS retailers, which were mapped within 1 to 4 miles of the 33 University of California and California State University campuses. To assess retailer density, a telephone survey of possible ENDS retailers (n=1186) determined which sold e-cigarettes or e-liquids (completion rate=72.

Place-Based Inequity in Smoking Prevalence in the Largest Cities in the United States.

This study uses data from the 500 Cities Project to characterize inequities in cigarette smoking both between and within cities and their association with sociodemographic factors and chronic diseases.