10 Facts on the Economics of Weed
4. Kids have easier access to black markets than regulated markets
Even before Nancy Reagan warned us all to “just say no!” to drugs, a certain segment of the population was and remains staunchly opposed to any relaxing of restrictions on marijuana. Concerns about the wellbeing of children and their access to marijuana trump any rational consideration. Reports claiming higher usage among teens in places like Colorado are baseless, as rates of illegal use are nearly impossible to accurately quantify. The bottom line is if we wish to restrict access to marijuana for kids, we have to regulate it. You cannot regulate a black market substance. Drug dealers don’t ask for ID. They don’t care what age the person they’re selling to is. Kids have an easier time buying drugs off the street than they do beer from a store. All criminalization of any substance does is push the market underground. If we really want to restrict access, we need marijuana to be on the open market.
