Students present survey showing high youth vape and cannabis exposure, urge Clear Lake to match Lakeport policies

Students and an advisor from Lower Lake High School presented a year-long underage cannabis prevention project to the Clear Lake City Council May 21, urging stronger local policies and education to reduce youth access to high-potency vapes.

Richie Aquino, club advisor, introduced student presenters who said they collected 509 anonymous survey responses during class periods. Student speakers described the project and the club's outreach work; a presenter cited national material from the Public Health Institute and said the California Department of Cannabis Control contributed enforcement-policy language used in their scorecards.

A speaker identified as Alicia reported the student findings: 46.8 percent of students reported lifetime cannabis use, 24.4 percent reported past-month use, and 17.9 percent reported past-week use. The students said their data and comparisons with a Lakeport scorecard — which the presenters said reflects stronger local policies — justify adopting similar local rules in Clear Lake.

Proposed measures included posting health warnings at retail, prohibiting on-site consumption, restricting marketing that imitates products for children, limiting high-potency products and enforcing existing policy. Students and the advisor urged the council to consider aligning Clear Lake's local rules with Lakeport's scorecard recommendations and to support education efforts targeting youth.

Council thanked the group and acknowledged further work would be needed to translate the recommendations into ordinances or enforcement plans.