Overdose prevention sites (OPS) are places where people use previously obtained drugs under the supervision of a health professional. They have been proposed in six United States (US) cities, including Philadelphia, to help reduce opioid-related overdose deaths and public injection. Philadelphia has the highest overdose rate among large cities in the US, which has led a local community-based organization to plan the implementation of OPS. Kensington, a neighborhood with the highest drug mortality overdose rates in the city, is a likely site for the proposed OPS. Given the dearth of research systematically assessing public opinion towards OPS prior to implementation, we enrolled 360 residents and 79 business owners/staff in the Kensington neighborhood in a cross-sectional acceptability study. Face-to-face surveys assessed participant characteristics, experiences with drug-related social problems, and OPS acceptability. Using descriptive statistics, we estimated factors associated with favorability towards opening an OPS in the Kensington neighborhood. Ninety percent of residents were in favor of an OPS opening in Kensington. Support was significantly higher among unstably housed individuals and persons who currently use opioids. In the business sample, 63% of owners/staff were in favor of opening an OPS in Kensington. A greater proportion of Asian/Pacific Islanders, Hispanic/Latinx respondents, and non-Hispanic/Latinx Black respondents were in favor of an OPS opening in Kensington compared with white respondents (p < 0.04). While details about implementation are still being considered, results indicate general acceptability among Kensington residents and businesses for an OPS, especially if it can deliver benefits that curb drug-related social problems. Should an OPS be implemented in Philadelphia, it would be important to monitor changes in drug-related social problems and acceptability post implementation.

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We examined the effects of California’s 2016 law legalizing cannabis for recreational use among young adult medical cannabis patients (MCP) and non-patient users (NPU). Three groups of young adult cannabis users ( n = 30) were qualitatively interviewed in Los Angeles between 2020-21: current MCP ( n = 3), who always had a medical cannabis recommendation, NPU ( n = 6), who never had a recommendation, and MCP-to-NPU ( n = 21), who had a recommendation in the past. MCP remained MCP due to greater acceptance of cannabis and lower prices afforded to MCP. MCP-to-NPU and NPU remained NPU due to increased acceptance of cannabis use within their community, greater legal security, and no compelling need for a medical cannabis recommendation. Price increases drove many to purchasing cannabis from unregulated black-market dispensaries. The legalization of cannabis for recreational use led to decisions to transition out of MCP status, destigmatization of cannabis use, increased prices of cannabis, and increased sourcing of cannabis from the black-market.