Let it grow—the open market solution to marijuana control

Harm Reduction Journal

Michael Kennedy²  Jon Gettman¹ 

[1]Shenandoah University, 1460 University Drive, Winchester, VA 22601, USA

[2]250 West 57th Street, Suite 920, New York, NY 10107, USA

关键词: Regulation;    Marijuana;    Legalization markets;    Drug policy;    Drug control (economic aspects);    Drug legalization (United States);    Government policy;    Drug traffic;    Decriminalization;    Cannabis;   

Others  :  1133813
DOI  :  10.1186/1477-7517-11-32

 received in 2014-05-21, accepted in 2014-10-20,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

This commentary evaluates regulatory frameworks for the legalized production, sale, and use of marijuana. Specifically, we argue that the primary goal of legalization should be the elimination of the illicit trade in marijuana and that maximizing market participation through open markets and personal cultivation is the best approach to achieving this goal. This argument is based on the assertion that regulatory models based on a tightly controlled government market will fail because they replicate the fatal flaws of the prohibition model. This commentary argues that an examination of the reasons for prohibition’s failure—to wit, the inability of government to control the production of marijuana—completely undercuts the basic premise of a tightly controlled market, which depends on the ability of the government to control production. The public interest would be better served by an effective regulatory framework which recognizes and takes advantage of competitive market forces. This analysis argues that reducing teenage access to marijuana requires the elimination of an overcapitalized illicit market. Further, it asserts that this goal and maximization of tax revenue from a legal marijuana market are mutually exclusive objectives.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Gettman and Kennedy; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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