This dataset was collected to compare cannabis and alcohol policies for localities (N = 241) within 12 California counties. The investigators collected and coded the legal text to compare overall restrictiveness and nine specific provisions that applied to both substances:

• Limits on hours of sale
• Limits on advertising
• Responsible server training requirements
• Prohibitions on outlet overconcentration
• Minimum distances between outlets and sensitive locations (e.g., schools)
• Prohibitions on hosting underage consumption (i.e., social host laws);
• Restrictions on special outdoor events;
• Local permitting for retail sales (i.e., in addition to state licensing);
• Outlet safety requirements such as night lighting.

To describe the characteristics of the communities impacted by these policies, local statistics were obtained from secondary data sources, including: demographic and socioeconomic indicators from the American Community Survey; voting history in cannabis-related and presidential elections; and densities of all retail, service industry, alcohol, and cannabis outlets from license listings and Zip Code Business Patterns.