PH 528 Policy Analysis 2

Landscape

The debate on legalizing recreational marijuana in Mississippi involves political, economic, and legal factors. As requested by Senator Hob Bryan, this analysis explores these key aspects to inform the decision on legalization. With the growing trend in other states, Mississippi must evaluate the benefits and risks, considering stakeholders’ perspectives, economic impact, and legal complexities. This section provides the necessary context for decision-making, emphasizing the importance of carefully weighing the pros and cons due to the long-term effects on public health, safety, and the economy: PH 528 Policy Analysis 2.

Political Factors

Supporters and Opponents

Supporters of legalization, including some lawmakers and advocacy groups, argue that marijuana legalization could generate tax revenue, create jobs, and reduce criminal justice burdens. They justified their views using examples such as Colorado and California, where sales of marijuana have been legal, with reported gains in financial returns (Jorgensen, 2020). Also, they point to the positives of reducing the general concerns of race and ethnicity issues regarding arrests and convictions of marijuana use. Some medical institutions promote the legalization of marijuana because of its medical potential, such as treating painkillers or mental disorders.

Opponents, however, raise concerns regarding public safety, potential increases in marijuana use, and federal law conflicts. Some argue that legalization could contribute to impaired driving or long-term health problems, while others object on moral grounds. The federal prohibition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act remains a significant barrier to state-level legalization. These concerns further complicate the political debate on the issue.

Influence of Stakeholders

Moreover, the political will to pass marijuana legalization depends on key stakeholders. The activist groups and lawmakers advocating for legalization are powerful, but so are their critics, such as law enforcement and conservative groups. The public is split, and the stances of local groups and community organizations will probably affect the legislative agenda.

The influence of interest groups, in this instance, public health and criminal justice interest groups, has the ability to transform the political landscape in the long run, chiefly because public opinion increases in favor of marijuana reform. More importantly, influential stakeholders in the business community, in this case, the cannabis industry, will actively push for legalization on the basis of a solid economic rationale.

Economic Factors

Revenue Generation

Legalization would generate a significant amount of money by taxing it like states like Colorado have witnessed. Such tax revenues can then be used to finance common needs like education and health. On the same note, legalization would bring about employment opportunities in the growth, sale, and distribution of the substance and products and would thus enhance economic development. Secondly, the legalization of marijuana could bring in different firms, which would help the state’s economy in service industries such as security services and moving services, among others.

Cost Implications

The costs of implementing marijuana legalization must be considered. The costs of regulation and enforcement would increase because a set of regulatory measures to control the cultivation and sale of marijuana would have to be developed. The police and other related officials would also be responsible for ensuring order and protection of the public amid the sale and use of marijuana, as well as combating the issue of its distribution.

Additionally, there could be higher costs of medical services like treatment of marijuana addiction or mental disorder diagnoses downstream. It is noteworthy that such healthcare expenses may cut down on the economic returns from taxing marijuana.

Impact on Competing Industries

Legalizing marijuana could affect industries like alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceuticals. To some extent, there is a presumption that marijuana may lead to a decrease in alcohol or the usage of prescription drugs such as pain relievers (Hoffer, 2023). At the same time, sectors associated with alcohol and tobacco may record lower sales, thus a resultant decrease in tax collections from these sources.

Likewise, pharmaceutical companies might experience a threat from marijuana as a non-opioid-based pain management solution. Legalization of marijuana may also address the crime related to the trade in other prohibited substances, mass redistributing police resources.

Legal Factors

Legal Barriers

A major legal challenge to marijuana legalization is the conflict between state and federal law. The Federal law prohibits the use of marijuana, and this would, therefore, be a challenge for Mississippi. Even in states where its use has been legalized, the threat of federal crackdown or other legal action remains looming due to various federal administration issues.

This can be attributed to the fact that federal law enforcement agencies may choose to continue criminalizing the substance, thus threatening efforts to legalize marijuana at the state level (Kellogg et al., 2022). There is also the issue of inter-state sales of marijuana, which is still a challenge due to federal legal frameworks.

Regulatory Framework

If Mississippi legalizes recreational marijuana, a comprehensive regulatory framework would need to be developed. It would cover provisions related to marijuana production, its supply, marketing, and consumption. There is also the need by the state to set the legal age for the use of the product, restrict the amount an individual can grow for their own use, and regulate public or open use of the product.

Such a framework must be articulated in order to have measures that would incorporate public health, safety, and economic considerations. If properly regulated, the flow of marijuana can be controlled, taxed, and put under certain standards on the outcomes of public health with much consideration for liberty. However, these regulations should be implemented and enforced carefully so as not to encounter legal problems.

In summary, recreational marijuana legalization in Mississippi is a sensitive balancing act of political, economic, and legal factors. Legislators have to balance possible gains, including tax revenues and employment, against dangers to public health, safety, and future legal consequences.

References

Hoffer, A. (2023, December 14). Cannabis taxation: Lessons learned from U.S. States and a blueprint for nationwide cannabis tax policy. Tax Foundation. https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/state/cannabis-tax-revenue-reform/

Jorgensen, C. (2020, January 13). How marijuana legalization would benefit the criminal justice system. The Blue Review. https://www.boisestate.edu/bluereview/how-marijuana-legalization-would-benefit-the-criminal-justice-system/

Kellogg, A., Anderson, C., & Michiels, M. (2022, March 21). A cannabis conflict of law: Federal vs. state law. Www.americanbar.org; American Bar Association. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/business_law/resources/business-law-today/2022-april/a-cannabis-conflict-of-law-federal-vs-state-law/

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Policy Analysis

Section 2- Landscape (50 points)

PH 528

Introduction: Mississippi State Senator Hob Bryan has asked you to write a policy analysis on whether recreational marijuana use should be legal in the state of Mississippi.

A policy analysis contains five sections: problem identification, background, landscape, options, and recommendation. You have already completed the problem identification and the background. For this assignment, you will complete the landscape.

3. Landscape (~3 pages)
   1. Provides the overall context for the analysis by identifying key factors that must be considered when analyzing the problem
   2. Choose 2-3 factors to focus on from the list provided in this document (political, social, economic, practical, and/or legal factors)
      1. The questions provided do not need to be explicitly answered- they are just a guide of what may be relevant to understanding the problem context
   3. Consider an example relating to limiting prescription drug purchases made over the internet. The following key factors would likely be included:
      1. Political factor- Who supports or opposes the limitation and how influential are they?
      2. Economic factor- Would it be costly to implement this limitation or costly to key constituents who may need more prescription drugs than are allowed by the limit? Would it provide an economic benefit to some stakeholders?

• Practical factor- Is it possible to implement and enforce a restricted purchasing system over the internet?

1. Legal factor- Are there legal barriers to limiting internet prescription drug purchases?

1. As you apply this to the analysis of recreational marijuana use policy, remember that your tone should be neutral and objective- you are identifying the positions of key stakeholders but are not inserting your own opinion
   1. Make sure Senator Bryan is well-informed on all aspects of the issue

Format:

• No title, heading, or title page needed
• Bolded section titles for different factors
• Use in-text citations and include a reference page in APA citation style
• Double-spaced, one-inch margins, 12 pt. Times New Roman font

Other Notes:

• Read and use Ch. 14 in your textbook, which outlines how to write a policy analysis
• I have included a folder of resources on Blackboard to get you started, but you should also find resources of your own
• All information should include an in-text citation and a mention on your reference page in APA citation style
  • Can reference scholarly articles, news articles, and reputable government, health, or non-profit agencies
• Avoid direct quotations from references- paraphrase and cite
  • All sections of your policy analysis will be run through SafeAssign to check for plagiarism- a SafeAssign score of more than 20% will receive an automatic zero

Due Date: Submit through Blackboard as a .doc or .docx file by 11:59 PM on Sunday 2/9.

Possible Factors to Include in a Landscape Section

Political Factors

• What is the political salience of the issue?
• Is this a front-burner issue?
• Is this a controversial issue?
• Are your client, legislators, and the general public interested in addressing this issue?
• Has this or a similar healthcare issue been addressed recently?
• Do key constituents, opponents, interest groups, or other stakeholders have an opinion about the issue? Who is likely to support or oppose change?
• Is there bipartisan support for the issue?
• Is there a reason to act now? Is there a reason to delay action?
  

  PH 528 Policy Analysis 2

Social Factors

• Who is affected by this problem? Could include health benefits/concerns
• According to the client who assigned the analysis, are influential or valued groups affected by this problem?
• Is there a fairness concern relating to this issue?
• Is there a stigma associated with this issue?

Economic Factors

• What is the economic impact of addressing this problem? Of not addressing it?
• Are various people or groups impacted differently?
• Are there competing demands for resources that relate to this issue?
• What is the economic situation of the state or nation? How does this affect the politics relating to this issue?
• How will addressing this issue affect healthcare costs/healthcare spending?

Practical Factors

• Is it realistic to try to solve this problem?
• Do others need to be involved to be able to solve this problem?
• Is the technology available to solve this problem?
• Would it be more practical to solve this problem later?
• Are other people in a better position to solve this problem?
• What do we know about solutions that do or do not work?
• If this problem cannot be solved, is it still necessary (politically, socially) to act in some way to address the problem?
• Is evidence available to support potential solutions?

Legal Factors

• Are there legal restrictions affecting this problem?
• Is there a need to balance public health concerns and individual legal rights?
• Are there legal requirements that impact the analysis?
• Is new legislative authority necessary to solve the problem?
• Is there legal uncertainty relating to this problem?
• Is future litigation a concern if action is taken?