Then create a single government-owned company that will be the only entity legally allowed to sell marijuana.
That way everything stays under control. It solves the quality issues, and all of the current sellers and distributors of marijuana are still illegal so the DEA can keep doing what they were doing.
It seems to me like this option would require very minimal legal changes.
Afterwards, if it is successful, we can slowly expand. Have the government slowly issues licenses to sell marijuana to some of the larger pharmaceutical companies, slowly legalize some advertising of the product, etc.
You don't need to completely legalize it and make it a free-for-all on the first day.
> Then create a single government-owned company that will be the only entity legally allowed to sell marijuana.
Just in case you've never been to Pennsylvania, we still have to buy wine and liquor from the single government-owned entity legally allowed to sell them that was set up at the end of (alcohol) Prohibition. These monsters have a habit of taking on lives of their own.
I don't think the government will see that as a problem. The point is to end the drug trade, not provide the best weed at the best price to the most people.
They have this in New Hampshire, too. The big stores near the border have the best prices in the northeast and are a tourist attraction for visitors from other states.
There are advantages and disadvantages, but it can work just fine.
Legalize possession.
Then create a single government-owned company that will be the only entity legally allowed to sell marijuana.
That way everything stays under control. It solves the quality issues, and all of the current sellers and distributors of marijuana are still illegal so the DEA can keep doing what they were doing.
It seems to me like this option would require very minimal legal changes.
Afterwards, if it is successful, we can slowly expand. Have the government slowly issues licenses to sell marijuana to some of the larger pharmaceutical companies, slowly legalize some advertising of the product, etc.
You don't need to completely legalize it and make it a free-for-all on the first day.