The states’ move to legalize marijuana in various forms is interesting, in part, because it presents so many novel regulatory questions. Legalization is only part of the equation, as discussed in this recent piece, Weed Regulation is Foundering. For Answers, Look to the Labs:
Ten years ago, medical marijuana was only legal in about half of U.S. states, and recreational use was outlawed in most of the country. Today, although marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, most states have legalized some use of the drug, setting off a green rush that, according to the data platform Statista, is predicted to bring in nearly $47 billion in revenue this year.
But in the absence of regulations or guidance from the federal government, states are struggling to oversee the flood of new businesses and products. Although experts told Undark that illicit marijuana remains the bigger safety hazard, across the country, independent tests have documented rampant problems with the legal products on dispensary shelves, including overstated THC levels as well as amounts of pesticides, mold, and heavy metals that exceed state limits.
We’ve had several guests on the Taboo Trades podcast that are experts in marijuana regulation and have discussed some of these issues at length. See for example, Marijuana Legalization with Pat Oglesby, and Marijuana Legalization with Douglas Berman.