Before the Grand Opening, Measuring Washington State�s Marijuana Market in the Last Year Before Legalized Commercial Sales

Author

Dahlkemper; Linden ; Midgette; Gregory ; Caulkins; Jonathan P. ; Rosalie Liccardo; Pacula ; MacCoun; Robert J. ; Kilmer; Beau

Year

2013

Publisher

RAND Corporation

Language

English

Pages

Link

Last Update

24-Sep-2025

Keywords

History ; Sociology

Description

Discussions about fundamental marijuana policy reform are becoming very serious in the United States and abroad. While alternatives to marijuana prohibition have been discussed for years in dorm rooms and at dinner parties, these debates are now occurring in town halls, state capitols, and federal hearing rooms.

On November 6, 2012, voters in Washington state passed Initiative 502 (I-502) which removed the prohibition on the production, distribution, and possession of marijuana for nonmedical purposes and required the state to tax and regulate the newly legal industry.¹ Outgoing Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signed I-502 into law on December 6, 2012. This...