Tracy Johns

Managing a Policy Experiment Adopting and Implementing Recreational Marijuana Policies in Colorado

The unique nature of recreational marijuana policy makes for a compelling study in the policy adoption and implementation process. As a local control state, Colorado cities, municipalities, and counties may choose whether or not to adopt marijuana legalization policies in their jurisdictions and how to do so. This research is based on survey and panel data from Colorado local officials regarding issues of adoption and implementation in their jurisdictions. Overall, the initial findings show that the decision regarding adoption was a result of a combination of policy determinants (both cultural and economic) and policy diffusion (from prior policies on medical marijuana). Factors related to public opinion, economics, and prior policy on medical marijuana affected both the decision to permit and the decision to prohibit. Policy diffusion also appears important in early implementation, as cities use the existing medical marijuana policies to shape recreational marijuana policies.

A National Survey of Community College Baccalaureate Institutions

This study utilized original survey data and a national sample of community college baccalaureate (CCB) institutions to examine how offering baccalaureate programs impacts these colleges and the students they serve. An increasing number of these colleges plan to offer their baccalaureate programs online, and programs in technology are projected to experience the greatest growth. The data suggest that student needs, and not institutional revenue or prestige, are the primary motivation for offering bachelors degrees. The challenges experienced when establishing the CCB programs were more likely to come from external than internal factors. Collectively, thousands of students have already graduated from these programs. Results from this study can be used by policymakers and college administrators to make data-driven decisions regarding baccalaureate programming at the community college.

Elements of Access: The Effects of Food Outlet Proximity, Transportation, and Realized Access on Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Food Deserts

This study surveys 900 supplemental nutrition assistance program recipient or eligible households and 300 supplemental nutrition assistance program ineligible households in local food deserts to identify the effects of different dimensions of access on fresh fruit and vegetables (FFV) consumption. While proximity and access to one’s own car were not significant predictors of FFV consumption, realized access to nonsupermarket outlets did have a positive effect on fresh vegetable consumption. Among food insecure respondents, limited car access had a negative effect on FFV consumption. This research underlines the importance of focusing on dimensions of access other than proximity when considering interventions designed to improve nutrition and health outcomes in food deserts.

Preferred Information Channels and Source Trustworthiness: Assessing Communication Methods Used in Florida's Battle Against Citrus Greening

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived source credibility, as viewed by Florida citrus growers, of state and national agricultural organizations associated with containing the plant disease called citrus greening. This study sought to determine the types of information that agricultural opinion leaders received from these agriculture organizations. In late 2007, three focus groups were conducted at county Cooperative Extension Service offices in three major areas of citrus production. The number of participants ranged from four to six for a total of 15. Growers were asked about their awareness and understanding of citrus greening; management practices; cooperation with fellow producers and institutions that played a role in citrus greening management; preferred avenues of communication; and information dissemination methods. Qualitative analysis was conducted to identify key themes and patterns within each topic category. Focus group results indicated that Florida citrus growers preferred to receive information about citrus greening primarily through face-to-face meetings and field days. They also preferred to receive their information from other growers in order to find out how their fellow farmers handled citrus greening. Focus group participants struggled with trusting regulators and university researchers, based on the growers’ previous experiences during the unsuccessful citrus canker eradication program and growers’ perceptions of the practicality of the research. Finally, growers were critical of the lack of available information about citrus greening from regulators and university researchers.