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County health department to use LARA grant for cannabis‑safety outreach and lock‑bag distribution
Summary
Kent County Health Department will appropriate $37,344 of a LARA award to fund messaging and outreach to reduce impaired driving, promote safe storage, and communicate risks to fetal and youth brain development; campaign will use digital, broadcast, transit and physical materials.
The Kent County Health Department told the Finance & Infrastructure Committee it will appropriate the remaining $37,344 of a $135,836 grant awarded by Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to support outreach and prevention related to medical and adult‑use marijuana.
Health Department staff said the award will support a messaging campaign focused on preventing driving under the influence of cannabis, promoting safe storage (including distribution of lock bags), and communicating potential risks of cannabis use to fetal, infant and youth brain development. Planned channels include social media, television and streaming video, audio spots on platforms such as Spotify and Pandora, bus ads, billboards and indirect community distribution of lock bags.
Staff cited data from the 2023 Kent County Community Health Needs Assessment showing an increase in frequent adult cannabis use (16% of adults using 14+ days/month, up from 9% in 2020) and a notable increase among adults ages 25–34. Commissioners discussed the challenge of measuring behavioral change via advertising and the importance of reaching people where they are; the committee approved appropriating the funds by voice vote.
