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In his commentary “Maybe legalizing weed wasn’t such a great idea” (Aug. 15), Tyler Cowen, an economics professor, completely fails to provide evidentiary support for his position.
By searching for an economic justification for legalization, Cowen ignores society’s desire to stop criminalizing people for consuming a drug that is arguably safer than alcohol. Indeed, an April 2020 report of the Minnesota American Civil Liberties Union found that — despite comparable usage rates — Black Minnesotans were 5.4 times more likely than white Minnesotans to be arrested for marijuana possession.
Despite this, Cowen argues legalization is a failed policy because:
- Pot is more potent today than before. So what? If you’re feeling uncomfortable, consume less. Consumers successfully manage alcohol dosage despite the existence of beer (often 5% ABV or so) and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky (33% ABV). Why should cannabis be any different?
- In states with legal marijuana, self-reported usage rose by 28%. Is this a surprise? Isn’t it possible that respondents previously failed to report that they were consuming an illegal drug? Isn’t it also unsurprising that usage would increase after cannabis was legalized? In any event, any policy that moves people away from alcohol and toward cannabis serves the interest of public health.
- Meanwhile, substance use disorders increased by 17%. What substances? Cannabis? Other substances? If this is the basis of your argument, Cowen, you should explain yourself. Keep in mind, moreover, that no one has ever died of a cannabis overdose. Also note a recent Canadian study of 23,000 medical cannabis patients that found only 26 patients were hospitalized for exhibiting cannabis disorders. I’ll do the math for you: That is 0.1%. At that percentage, your time would be better spent focusing on the dangers of cough syrup than cannabis.
- Chronic homelessness went up by 35%. Oh, really? The sun came up each day, too. Do you attribute that to increased cannabis use? Unless you have data linking a rise in homelessness to cannabis, I’ll assume you have none.
- Arrests increased by 13%. Hooray! I presume that law enforcement — now unburdened from criminalizing cannabis users — now has more resources to focus on real crime.
Data linking cannabis to these results does not exist. Stop pretending that it does.
Jason Tarasek, Minneapolis
The writer is a cannabis attorney with Vicente LLP and former Minnesota Political Director for the Marijuana Policy Project.