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Drug Policy and Trends

Cocaine
commentary
Mixed Messages: Is Cocaine Consumption in the U.S. Going Up or Down?
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer, Greg Midgette
Apr 28, 2017
Brookings - Up Front
Data lags and the elimination of the ADAM program complicate estimates of U.S. cocaine consumption. New users who haven't yet developed cocaine dependence are also a factor. It may be prudent to start planning for an increase in heavy use even before all of the evidence is in.
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Marijuana
commentary
The Future of Cannabis in the Netherlands
Stijn Hoorens @StijnHoorens
Feb 1, 2017
Volkskrant
The Netherlands should proceed cautiously in implementing any marijuana regulations, taking into account the models devised elsewhere and remembering that once enacted the rules will be difficult to change.
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Marijuana
commentary
Trump's Marijuana Options
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Jan 17, 2017
The Hill
The new administration has at least six options for addressing marijuana. These are not mutually exclusive, and each comes with tradeoffs. All six are compatible with a federal approach that encourages discussions about prohibition and its alternatives.
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Marijuana
commentary
The Legal Marijuana Middle Ground
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Dec 1, 2016
USA Today
There are many ways to legalize marijuana supply besides the for-profit approach. But to learn what effects various models have, the federal government will have to make it easier for states to implement some middle-ground options.
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Drug Courts
commentary
Drug Dependence: Treatment Over Incarceration
Matthew Davies, Emma Disley, Kristy Kruithof
Oct 3, 2016
Criminal Law & Justice Weekly
Drug dependence imposes significant costs to society and traditional criminal justice responses like imprisonment do not reduce crime. More quality research on alternative sanctions could help police, prosecutors, and judges expand their options while helping users get treatment.
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United States
essay
Election 2016: The Domestic Issues
Oct 3, 2016
RAND offers a unique take on the big domestic issues facing America: research that is independent, reliable, and rigorously nonpartisan.
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Parenting
commentary
What Your Kids Need to Know About Marijuana, Legalized or Not
Elizabeth J. D'Amico
Sep 21, 2016
Los Angeles Times
If you are a parent, no matter how you feel about legalizing marijuana, you need to be prepared to talk about the drug with your kids.
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Marijuana
q&a
Your Questions About Marijuana Legalization, Answered
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Sep 13, 2016
At least five states will vote on legal recreational marijuana this November. Drug policy expert Beau Kilmer hosted an “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit to shed light on this and other issues.
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Marijuana
commentary
Promises and Pitfalls of Cannabis Taxes
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Aug 22, 2016
San Francisco Chronicle
Setting the cannabis tax should not be considered a one-time event. Smart jurisdictions will revise their decisions over time to incorporate new data about taxes, testing, and the cannabis plant itself — without being influenced by those seeking to maximize profits.
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United States
blog
A Summer Reading List for Congress
Aug 2, 2016
To help Hill staffers make the most of the Congressional recess, RAND has developed a list of must-read research and commentaries that will help ensure policymakers will return ready to hit the ground running.
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Alcohol
commentary
Should Some Californians Lose Their 'License to Drink'?
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Jul 6, 2016
San Diego Union-Tribune
In California, many efforts to reduce repeat drunken driving focus on the driving. What if the state targeted the 'drunk' aspect instead?
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Marijuana
q&a
Researcher Q&A: Beau Kilmer on the State of Marijuana Legalization
May 26, 2016
Beau Kilmer, co-director of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center and a co-author of the nonpartisan primer Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know addresses developments in marijuana policy and why reasonable people can disagree about legalization.
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Marijuana
commentary
If California Legalizes Marijuana, Consumption Will Likely Increase. But Is That a Bad Thing?
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
May 16, 2016
Los Angeles Times
Legalizing and allowing profit-maximizing firms to produce, sell, and advertise recreational marijuana would likely increase marijuana consumption. But how would this increased consumption influence the use of other substances?
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Opioids
blog
Conversations at RAND: A Sobering Look at the Opioid Epidemic
May 13, 2016
Opioid overdoses were the greatest cause of accidental death in America in 2014. A panel discussion at RAND addressed the epidemic, including societal attitudes toward pain and addiction, poor understanding of the mechanics of addiction itself, economic drivers, legal responses, and treatment approaches.
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Tobacco and Smoking
commentary
The Smoke and Mirrors of Tobacco Regulations
William Shadel @william_shadel
May 9, 2016
Newsweek
With new regulations on more products such as e-cigarettes, the FDA is moving forward to protect the public from the harms of tobacco. But there are many ways the regulations as they're currently proposed could change.
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Underage Substance Use Prevention
commentary
Making Prevention a Priority
Matthew Chinman
Mar 7, 2016
VT Digger
A bill legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes in Vermont has a strong possibility of passing. Lawmakers and communities should focus on putting in place drug prevention programs aimed at young people, considering that their marijuana use is higher in Vermont than the national average.
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Drug Policy and Trends

Mixed Messages: Is Cocaine Consumption in the U.S. Going Up or Down?

The Future of Cannabis in the Netherlands

Trump's Marijuana Options

The Legal Marijuana Middle Ground

Drug Dependence: Treatment Over Incarceration

Election 2016: The Domestic Issues

What Your Kids Need to Know About Marijuana, Legalized or Not

Your Questions About Marijuana Legalization, Answered

Promises and Pitfalls of Cannabis Taxes

A Summer Reading List for Congress

Should Some Californians Lose Their 'License to Drink'?

Researcher Q&A: Beau Kilmer on the State of Marijuana Legalization

If California Legalizes Marijuana, Consumption Will Likely Increase. But Is That a Bad Thing?

Conversations at RAND: A Sobering Look at the Opioid Epidemic

The Smoke and Mirrors of Tobacco Regulations

Making Prevention a Priority

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