Considering Marijuana Legalization: Insights for Vermont and Other Jurisdictions

Abstract

Marijuana legalization is a controversial and complex issue. The prohibition of marijuana has been the subject of debate for decades, but now the discussions are moving from dorm rooms and dinner parties to state legislatures and federal hearing rooms. In May 2014, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed a bill into law that required the Secretary of Administration to provide a report about the consequences of legalizing marijuana. We produced this document for the Vermont Secretary of Administration, and it reflects the insights and assessments only of the authors. The report provides a systematic assessment of various alternatives to marijuana prohibition, with a special focus on supply architectures, taxes, and regulations. It presents new information about the size of the marijuana market and criminal justice costs associated with enforcing marijuana laws in Vermont and provides information that decisionmakers can use to weigh the consequences of various policy options. The report does not make a recommendation about whether Vermont should change its marijuana laws. It addresses the issue in broad terms because there is no single specific legalization proposal on the table in Vermont at this time, and that generality should make the document useful over time and to other states.