Tobacco Summit
On March 16, Blue Zones Project Monterey County convened a virtual Tobacco Policy Summit, which included 17 community leaders and key stakeholders from across our region. Under the guidance of national tobacco policy experts, Andrea Mowery and Toben Nelson, participants walked through the findings of a Tobacco Policy ‘Discovery’ report, which included input from key stakeholders representing county and city leadership, chronic disease experts, education leaders, and youth advocates. The report findings provided excellent context for participants to work in small groups to determine policy recommendations to guide tobacco policy work specific to the Peninsula Cities (Marina, Seaside and Monterey) and the greater Monterey County expansion efforts. Clear policy priorities emerged from the group, which will be vetted and included in a final report, completed by end of April. Participants left the Summit feeling energized about the collaborative opportunities to advance tobacco control policies and support better health for all residents of Monterey County.
