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Matt Simon
New England Political Director
Marijuana Policy Project
Regulation, Sales, and the
Marketplace
According to a recent report by the
Rand Corporation, Vermonters spend
approximately $175 million per year on
marijuana.*
 In Massachusetts, which has 10 times
the population of Vermont, estimates
would likely be around $1.75 billion.

*“Considering Marijuana Legalization: Insights for
Vermont and Other Jurisdictions,” presented January 21,
2015, to the Vermont Legislature.
The Current Marketplace
Before considering the potential public
health impacts of marijuana legalization
and regulation, we should first consider
the public health impacts of Prohibition.
 Although marijuana is often called a
“controlled substance,” under a
Prohibition regime there is no control of
marijuana production and sale.

Negative Public Health Impacts of
Prohibition
Illicit dealers do not require ID’s.
 Illicit dealers do not educate consumers.
 Illicit dealers may introduce consumers to
more dangerous drugs like heroin.
 Prohibition enriches violent gangs and
cartels, undermining public safety.
 Consumers don’t know the purity or
potency of what they are buying.

Benefits of a Regulated Market
Purchasers must be 21.
 Products can be sold with educational
materials and warning labels.
 Regulated stores will not serve as a
“gateway” to more dangerous drugs.
 Regulated markets will take profits away
from gangs and cartels.
 Consumers may purchase products that
have been tested for purity and potency.

The Challenge of Regulating Edible
and Infused Products
Edible marijuana products are
metabolized differently by our bodies —
there is a delay before they take effect,
and the effect lasts much longer.
 This difference increases the possibility
that a person will consume too much and
have an unpleasant experience.
 If not packaged responsibly, edibles may
be attractive to underage consumers.

Have Edibles Been a Huge Problem
in Colorado?
In a word, the answer is no!
 Although there have been a few tragic
incidents associated with
overconsumption of edibles, it’s important
to remember that over 5 million edible
products were sold in Colorado last year.
 Colorado did adopt new regulations
requiring opaque, child-resistant packaging
for edibles.

Maureen Dowd’s Experience
For more information on
marijuana policy reform, please
visit
mpp.org
or contact me at
[email protected]