PH 528 Policy Analysis Final

Problem Identification

Should Mississippi legalize the recreational use of marijuana?

Background

Marijuana legalization has been a top policy issue in the United States. Although 23 states have legalized recreational marijuana, Mississippi has only legalized medical marijuana (Marijuana Policy Project, 2021). The argument for the legalization of recreational marijuana is founded on its economic value, social impact, and legal issues. The choice has broad implications for public health, law enforcement, and the state’s economy and is an essential issue for policymakers: PH 528 Policy Analysis Final.

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant, and its principal active constituent is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The immediate effects of marijuana use are euphoria, changed perception, and increased appetite. Long-term marijuana use has been associated with cognitive impairment, addiction, and mental illnesses like anxiety and depression (Ng & Gupta, 2022). Legalization would make it legal for adults—usually 21 years and above—to buy and use marijuana, with regulations by the state.

Mississippi’s position on marijuana has evolved in recent years. Medical marijuana was legalized in 2020, although court battles delayed its rollout. Recreational marijuana is still illegal, although public opinion is changing.

A majority of Mississippians, 60%, now favor legalization in recent polls, which mirrors national trends toward marijuana reform (Ng & Gupta, 2022). Supporters claim that the legalization of marijuana might raise tax revenue, generate jobs, and cut law enforcement expenses. Colorado and California have already shown financial benefits from regulation and taxation.

Despite these benefits, there are also fears. Opponents are concerned that legalization will lead to increased substance abuse, drunken driving, and other public safety problems. The ultimate impact on society is uncertain, which presents a difficulty for Mississippi policymakers in balancing economic opportunity with potential health and legal consequences.

Landscape

The debate over the legalization of recreational marijuana in Mississippi involves political, economic, and legal considerations. All these are significant in establishing the policy environment and guiding political policy. Other variables include the opinions of the major players, legislators, interest groups, the police, business people, and citizens. These considerations help one understand how the calls for marijuana legalization will impact the state better.

Political Factors

The debates on the legalization of marijuana in Mississippi have indeed been in the two extremes. There are clear advocates in the sense that legalization reflects contemporary society’s awareness and principles, while there are apparent opponents regarding the negative impact on public safety, health, and morality.

Supporters of Legalization
Advocates for legalization include lawmakers, advocacy groups, and economic stakeholders who emphasize the financial and social benefits of a regulated marijuana market. Many agree that Mississippi might follow the Colorado and California examples of taxing marijuana, which has been an essential funding source for public services, including health and education (Orenstein & Glantz, 2020).

Legalization advocates also argue that this practice will bring an end to the bias in the arrests and convictions for marijuana-related offenses that will continue to target people of color regardless of the state they are located. While Mississippi permits medical marijuana, its availability for recreational purposes would be beneficial for individuals who smoke or consume marijuana to ease pain, anxiety, and other illnesses without the need for a prescription.

Opponents of Legalization
Opposition to recreational marijuana legalization in Mississippi comes from conservative lawmakers, law enforcement agencies, and public health officials who cite public safety risks. Concerns include the potential rise in impaired driving incidents and substance abuse, as well as long-term health effects. Federal prohibition under the Controlled Substances Act further complicates regulation at the state level.

Critics worry that legalization may increase adolescent access, negatively affecting cognitive development and academic performance (Turner & Agrawal, 2020). Law enforcement officials fear that illicit markets may persist, even with strict regulations, making enforcement challenging. Additionally, lobbying efforts from various interest groups significantly influence public perception and legislative decision-making on marijuana policy.

Economic Factors

The legalization of marijuana has become one of the most important issues regarding economic policy. The legalization of recreational marijuana has evidenced a positive economic impact among the states that have adopted it by increasing tax revenues, employment opportunities, and development of the cannabis industry. Nevertheless, legalization is not without its own drawbacks and possibilities of giving effect to economic nightmares.

Revenue Generation
Legalizing and taxing marijuana could provide Mississippi with substantial revenue to fund public programs, similar to other states. For instance, Colorado generated over $400 million in marijuana tax revenue in 2022, which was used to support education, healthcare, and infrastructure (Turner & Agrawal, 2020). By imposing excise taxes, licensing fees, and sales taxes, Mississippi could create a new source of income to supplement state funding for essential services.

Also, the cities would be able to reap the benefits of local sales taxes, which would create revenue that could be diverted into community programs, police training initiatives, and drug education initiatives. Due to the recession in Mississippi, the possibility of more state revenue is welcome.

Job Creation and Industry Growth
The marijuana industry has demonstrated rapid job growth in states that have embraced legalization. The practice, distribution, and sale of the products offer employment to the population in areas such as farming, merchandising, transportation, and security services. Small businesses and entrepreneurs would also have opportunities in the emerging market, thus fostering economic growth in the urban and rural sectors.

Furthermore, legalization could attract investment from marijuana companies looking to expand their operations. This could encourage the growth of ancillary businesses, such as packaging suppliers, testing laboratories, and marketing firms, further contributing to economic stimulation.

Regulatory and Law Enforcement Costs
Despite the financial advantages, legalizing recreational marijuana also comes with costs. Mississippi would have to put in place a full regulatory system to manage manufacturing, distribution, and retailing. This would involve investments in enforcing compliance, license management, and public health education programs.

Police officers would also require additional training to respond to emerging concerns with legalization, including detecting drug-impaired driving and inhibiting illegal market conduct. California and Oregon have not been able to eliminate unlawful cannabis operations, which persist despite existing legal options (Cheng et al., 2022). Mississippi needs to factor in the enforcement and regulatory costs to offer a controlled and safe market.

Legal Factors

State vs. Federal Conflict
Federal prohibition poses a significant challenge for states that legalize marijuana. Companies in the cannabis sector are challenged by banking limitations, with most banking institutions shying away from dealing with marijuana-based businesses because of federal law. This compels companies to resort to cash transactions, which raise security threats and constrain financial development.

Mississippi would have to work through these challenges delicately, providing financial services to businesses while ensuring state compliance. A few states already have cannabis-specific banking solutions, but federal intervention would be necessary to address these tensions.

Regulatory Framework Development
If Mississippi legalizes recreational marijuana, it must develop a comprehensive regulatory framework to ensure safe and controlled access. Age limits, usually prohibiting sales to anyone younger than 21, will have to be implemented to preclude underage utilization. Strict retail licensure enforcement will regulate enterprises within the framework of the law. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potency limits and package and label regulations will safeguard buyers. Lastly, public consumption statutes uphold order and public protection.

Impact on Law Enforcement
Legalization would divert law enforcement resources from marijuana-related arrests to more serious crimes. This would potentially result in fewer people being incarcerated and less racial bias in law enforcement drug convictions. Law enforcement would, however, require more resources to address impaired driving charges and deter illegal market activity.

Potential Legal Challenges
Mississippi could face legal opposition from groups that remain against legalization. There will likely be controversies regarding zoning regulations, employer rights to implement drug-free workplace policies, and federal overreach concerns. There have been court challenges to states that legalized marijuana against several elements of their regulatory schemes. Mississippi policymakers must anticipate possible legal challenges and ensure new laws are constitutional and responsive to public interest requirements.
Conclusively, the most significant legal challenge is the contradiction between state and federal laws. While marijuana is legalized in some states, it is still illegal under federal law. This federal-state divide makes businesses uncertain regarding banking and interstate commerce (Cheng et al., 2022).

If Mississippi legalizes marijuana for recreational purposes, a full regulatory framework would be needed. The framework would need to address licensing, taxation, age restrictions, and public consumption laws to ensure compliance and minimize public health risks.

Policy Options

Option 1: Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Pros:

Legalizing recreational marijuana in Mississippi presents several advantages that could benefit the state economically and socially. One of the key benefits is the possibility of economic development since money made from the taxation of cannabis sales can be invested in education, public health, and social services (Brown et al., 2023). The cannabis market would also generate employment, especially in rural communities, with the ability to boost local economies.

Another major benefit is the cost reduction in law enforcement activities. Legalizing marijuana would allow funds wasted on penalizing marijuana offenses to be channeled toward more urgent criminal activity. Lastly, legalization would improve public health through controlled product safety, eliminating the risks of contaminated black-market marijuana.

Cons:

Despite its potential benefits, the legalization of recreational marijuana in Mississippi also presents several challenges. One of the most important concerns is that it has a very strong likelihood of heightened marijuana usage, particularly by young adults. Higher usage will lead to psychological issues such as anxiety and cognitive impairment. Additionally, driving after consuming marijuana poses a significant risk, as marijuana will lead to increased accidents and road safety hazards.

The police will need more manpower to manage it efficiently. Beyond this, the federal prohibition on marijuana poses legal and financial hurdles for companies. Federal law can restrict access to banking for cannabis companies, making it harder to do business and deterring investment in the sector.

Option 2: Maintain the Current Ban

Pros:

Keeping recreational marijuana illegal in Mississippi has several benefits, especially related to public health and the rule of law. Prohibiting marijuana can prevent the rise in overall use and the addiction consequences, safeguarding public health (Brown et al., 2023). It can also reduce social costs by avoiding possible problems like driving under the influence and reduced workplace productivity.

By not legalizing, Mississippi also prevents itself from future disagreements with federal law, maintaining consistency with current drug legislation. This would avoid legal and economic uncertainties for state agencies and businesses that could otherwise suffer at the hands of the federal government’s continued prohibition of marijuana.

Cons:

Keeping recreational marijuana illegal in Mississippi also boasts several drawbacks. One of the biggest drawbacks is the missed economic opportunity, as the state would lose out on possible tax revenue that could be invested in public services and infrastructure. Apart from that, the marijuana business would generate jobs, especially in rural communities, which would be forfeited without legalization. The other key concern is the continued criminalization of marijuana use with a disproportionate effect on vulnerable communities.

Arrest and legal sanctions for marijuana crime victimize these communities, contributing to social and economic disparities. Last but not least, prohibition will not end demand, and the black market will thrive. Unlawful consumption can lead to unsafe products and criminal activity, which can pose additional risks to public safety.

Recommendation

Mississippi should legalize marijuana for recreational purposes but implement strict regulatory mechanisms to guard against the risk. Risks such as increased consumption and drunk driving can be countered by imposing age restrictions and limiting access to individuals under the age of 21 years. Further, public awareness campaigns can educate people on safe usage and the danger of drunk driving. Strict adherence to regulation will ensure safe consumption, production, and sale, and sales tax revenue can be utilized for the funding of addiction and mental health treatment.

Its economic benefits, including employment opportunities and cost savings in law enforcement, outweigh prohibition. Legalization will also conform to national trends and evolving public opinion. Notably, specific legislation can allow Mississippi to reap maximum benefits while minimizing any perceived risks of marijuana use.

References

Brown, J., Cohen, E., & Felix, A. (2023). Economic Benefits and Social Costs of Legalizing Recreational Marijuana. Research Working Paper, 89(1936-5330). https://doi.org/10.18651/rwp2023-10

Cheng, S. F., De Franco, G., & Lin, P. (2022). Marijuana Liberalization and Public Finance: A Capital Market Perspective on the Passage of Medical Use Laws. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 75(1), 101516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2022.101516

Marijuana Policy Project. (2021). Where do researchers get their marijuana? MPP. https://www.mpp.org/policy/federal/where-do-researchers-get-their-marijuana/

Ng, T., & Gupta, V. (2022). Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563174/

Orenstein, D. G., & Glantz, S. A. (2020). Cannabis Legalization in State Legislatures: Public Health Opportunity And Risk. Marquette Law Review, 103(4), 1313. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8351589/

Turner, A. R., & Agrawal, S. (2020). Marijuana. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430801/

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Policy Analysis

Section 4- Final Draft (100 points)

PH 528

Introduction: State Senator Hob Bryan (Mississippi District 7) is the chairman of the Mississippi State Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. Now that the state legislature has passed a bill legalizing medical marijuana use in the state, members of the committee are debating whether to draft legislation to legalize recreational use of marijuana in Mississippi. Senator Bryan has asked you to write a policy analysis on this issue.

A policy analysis contains five sections: problem identification, background, landscape, options, and recommendation. For this assignment, you will revise your completed sections based on feedback and put them together to form a full policy analysis.

Sections: Must be 5 pages minimum- section page amounts are suggestions

1. Problem Identification (1 sentence)

 

2. Background (~1 page)

 

3. Landscape (~3 pages)

 

4. Options (~1.5 pages)

 

5. Recommendation (~0.5 pages)

Format:

• No title, heading, or title page needed- just begin with your problem question
• Bolded section titles
• Use in-text citations and include a reference page in APA citation style
• 5 pages of content (minimum, can be more) + reference page
• Double-spaced, one-inch margins, 12 pt. Times New Roman font
• Can include tables if that helps to organize your thoughts

Other Notes:

• Read and use Ch. 14 in your textbook, which outlines how to write a policy analysis
• All information should include an in-text citation and a mention on your reference page in APA
  • Can reference scholarly articles, news articles, and reputable government, health, or non-profit agencies
• Avoid direct quotations from references- paraphrase and cite
  • 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 2/23.