International Journal on Criminology Volume 6, Number 2, Winter 2018/Spring 2019 | Page 23

International Journal on Criminology
atives has been largely left to the private sector, which has employed the same
strategies for expanding the market as those used for alcohol. A veritable “green
capitalism” has emerged in the two states, where the cannabis sector has created
jobs as well as increasing sales and generating large profit margins.
This picture should be qualified, however. The revenue share created by the
cannabis industry in the economy and in tax revenues remains modest (less than 1
percent of the GDP of the two states), especially when compared to the traditional
economic dynamics of the two states (Boeing, Microsoft, Nintendo). Moreover,
current data does not take into account the long-term costs of the reforms for society
as a whole, since it does not include undesirable effects such as car accidents,
hospitalization, and decreases in productivity. We must wait several years before
a thorough evaluation of the costs and benefits of the reforms can be carried out.
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