Table 1. Public health framework versus state marijuana regulations.
| Public Health Standard | Colorado | Washington | Alaska | Oregon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Agency | |||||
| Department of Health | ✓ | X | X | X | X |
| Advisory Committees | |||||
| Membership solely of public health experts | ✓ | ✓ | -- | X | ✓ |
| No decision-making authority for marijuana industry or vested interests | ✓ | X | -- | X | X |
| Regulatory Complexity | |||||
| Creates a single system of retail marijuana | ✓ | X | ✓ | X | X |
| Tax Revenue | |||||
| Tax covers full costs | ✓ | X | X | -- | X |
| Dedicated revenue to marijuana prevention, control, and research | ✓ | X | ✓ | -- | X |
| Prevention and Control Programs | |||||
| Media campaign | |||||
| Aimed at general population (not just youth) | ✓ | X | X | -- | X |
| Modeled on social norm change | ✓ | X | X | -- | X |
| Smokefree Laws | |||||
| Prohibit any public use of marijuana | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prohibit marijuana use wherever tobacco smoking is prohibited | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Protect local control | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prohibit indoor use in marijuana retail stores or marijuana clubs | ✓ | X | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Marketing and Advertising | |||||
| Prohibit free or discounted samples | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prohibit cartoon characters | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prohibit sport and cultural event sponsorship | ✓ | X | X | X | X |
| Prohibit product placement in popular media and cobranded merchandise | ✓ | X | X | X | X |
| Prohibit therapeutic claims | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prohibit outdoor advertising on billboards | ✓ | ✓ | X | X | X |
| Prohibit advertising on television and radio | ✓ | X | ✓ | X | X |
| Restrict advertising in print and digital communications with 15% threshold | ✓ | X | X | X | X |
| Licensing Rules | |||||
| Impose serious penalties on retailers’ underage sales | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | -- | ✓ |
| Prohibit sale of tobacco or alcohol in marijuana retail stores | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prohibit tobacco and alcohol retailers from holding marijuana license | ✓ | X | X | X | X |
| Retail Sales | |||||
| Require retailer use age verification system (ID scanners) at point of sale | ✓ | X | X | X | X |
| Prohibit retailers within 1,000 feet of underage-sensitive areas | ✓ | X | ✓ | X | X |
| Prohibit electronic commerce (internet, mail order, text messaging, social media) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Product Standards | |||||
| Require strong potency limits and product quality testing | ✓ | X | X | X | ✓ |
| Prohibit products containing additives (nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, or toxic chemicals) | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prohibits flavored products appealing to underage persons | ✓ | X | ✓ | X | X |
| Warning Labels | |||||
| Require warning labels modeled on state of the art tobacco labels | ✓ | X | X | X | X |
Key: ✓ Required by law or regulation; X Not required by law or regulation; --Pending legislative approval or rulemaking process