Initiative 502 youth marijuana use prevention implementation plan

Initiative 502 (I-502) established a system, overseen by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, to license, regulate, and tax the production, processing, and wholesale of cannabis. It created a dedicated cannabis account (DCA), formerly "dedicated marijuana account (DMA)," consisting of excise taxes, license fees, penalties, and forfeitures and specifies the disbursement of this money for a variety of health, education, and research purposes with the remainder distributed to the state general fund. The Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) was mandated to implement prevention and treatment services funded through the DCA.

DBHR projects funded by DMA:

Statewide health behavior data collection

DCA funds support implementation of the Washington Health Youth (HYS) Survey and the Young Adult Health Survey (YAHS). HYS is conducted every two years in collaboration with DBHR, the Washington State Department of Health, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. YAHS is administered yearly by DBHR and the University of Washington.

Community-based prevention services

Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) enhancement and expansion

With the DCA funds, DBHR was able to enhance current Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) community funding and expand to five new CPWI sites. This funding is used to implement prevention programs from the Prevention Programs and Practices for Youth Cannabis Use Prevention lists. These lists of evidence-based cannabis prevention programs were developed in consultation with the Evidence Based Program (EBP) Workgroup, a group comprised of researchers and experts from DBHR, University of Washington’s Social Development Research Group (SDRG) and Washington State University’s Improving Prevention through Action (IMPACT), with input from Washington State Institute for Public Policy, and Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.

Community-based organizations (CBOs)

DCA also supports community-based organizations statewide to offer prevention services from the Prevention Programs and Practices for Youth Cannabis Use Prevention list.

Prevention Programs and Practices for Youth Cannabis Use Prevention lists:

DMA CPWI Enhancement (Cohorts 1-3) and CBO program list
Updated for SFY 2018 (July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018)

DMA CPWI Expansion (Cohort 4) program list
Updated for SFY 2018 (July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018)

Statewide cost-benefit evaluation

DCA also supports a contract with the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to conduct an inventory of evidence-based, research-based, and promising practices of youth cannabis use.

LifeSkills Training program

Through DCA, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction offers grants to support LifeSkills Training implementation in schools across the state. LifeSkills Training is an evidence-based prevention curriculum.

Facilitator trainings

DCA funds have supported training opportunities for prevention and treatment evidence-based, research-based and promising programs as identified in the I-502 program list. Trainings are offered statewide, regionally, and through local providers.

Tribal prevention and substance use disorder treatment grants

DCA supports funding for federally recognized tribes in Washington to implement prevention or treatment services.

Resources

Who can I contact for more information about DBHR's I-502 youth marijuana use prevention implementation plan?

Christine Steele
Prevention Project and Policy Manager
christine.steele@hca.wa.gov