Category Archives: Herbs

If reducing harm to society is the goal, a cost-benefit analysis shows cannabis prohibition has failed

The case for a referendum on New Zealand’s cannabis law was already urgent in 2015 when the supposedly more pressing issue was whether we should change the flag. As I argued at the time, prohibition had failed and was costing society far more than the drug itself. As with alcohol, tobacco, prostitution and gambling, regulation – not prohibition – seemed the smarter way forward. Nothing has changed as the cannabis legalisation and control referendum looms on October 17. If anything, the evidence from five wasted decades of war on cannabis is even […]

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Why do we love (and love to hate) celebrity weed brands?

Celebrity endorsements have long served as an effective marketing tool for brands looking to reach large target audiences in a single swoop.  For normal, federally legal industries, like sports, fashion, and beauty, it’s a straight shot from the celebrity or influencer endorsement to the pipeline of consumerism. Unless a Kendall Jenner/Pepsi-esqe fiasco occurs, there’s little risk for the celebrity or the brand in terms of backlash. Everyone makes a ton of money and voila. But what happens when the industry itself is not only federally illegal, but […]

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