setts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washingtonâhave legalized cannabis for adult use. Each state's cannabis program is a unique
G OV E R N M E N T A F FA I R S
E C O N O M I C I M PAC T S O F L E G A L I Z AT I O N
An assessment of the regulatory framework and economic impacts of medical cannabis and legalization in the eight states that have passed adult-use legislation
A cannabis conversation is sweeping Hawai‘i. Opponent or proponent, medical or adult use—from government offices to backyard barbeques, passionate discussions about cannabis are becoming more common throughout our communities. As Hawai‘i’s medical cannabis program slowly pushes forward, talk in the Aloha State continues to swirl around adult use. So far, eight states—Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington—have legalized cannabis for adult use. Each state’s cannabis program is a unique case study in cannabis legislation, for better or worse. The Hawai‘i Dispensary Alliance has compiled adult-use program specifics and economic impact data on all eight states to help inform our statewide conversation. Is adult use the right path for Hawai‘i? Here’s the data, you be the judge.
By Kevin Whitton
Source: “Chart: Cannabis industry employs 165,000-plus workers.” Marijuana Business Daily, June 26, 2017, https://mjbizdaily.com/chart-cannabis-industry-employs-165000-plus-workers.
