Jacob James Rich
Policy Analyst, Reason Foundation
Jacob James Rich is a Policy Analyst at Reason Foundation.
His work primarily focuses on health care policy, specializing in prescription and illegal drug regulations.
Rich holds master’s degrees in mathematics and economics from Eastern Michigan University. He is currently a PhD student at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.
Prior to joining Reason, he conducted research for the Cato Institute focused on economics and opioid policy.
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How America subsidizes medicine across the world
The U.S. healthcare market subsidizes much of the world’s cutting-edge medical innovations, including pharmaceutical developments.
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A Schedule III designation is still overly restrictive for marijuana
A Schedule III designation fails to fully align federal and state law in the states that authorize some form of commercial market in marijuana.
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Marijuana legalization is not associated with increases in youth suicide rates
Youth suicide rates actually tend to drop following legal access to recreational and medical marijuana.
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Biden administration should reject the proposed menthol ban
President Biden should take a careful look at data that suggests such a prohibition would not make a substantial impact on youth smoking rates or public health.
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Study: Menthol cigarettes do not increase youth smoking more than other cigarettes
This study concludes that menthol cigarette availability does not pose a greater threat to public health than regular cigarette availability.
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Drug Legalization Handbook
"America needs to recognize that we will not see a reduction in violent crimes until we legalize drugs. All drugs."
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New York’s legislature should stand firm against Gov. Hochul’s tobacco prohibition
A similar flavored tobacco ban in Massachusetts has been an epic failure.
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Florida politicians want fentanyl designated a weapon of mass destruction
Then fentanyl crisis will not be resolved by doubling down on prohibition policies that have failed for decades and are actually fueling overdose deaths.
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Massachusetts menthol ban increased smoking among black women, research finds
It seems clear that menthol prohibitions are ineffective mechanisms for improving public health in the black community.
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The effect of menthol bans on cigarette sales: Evidence from Massachusetts
Massachusetts' flavored tobacco ban primarily sent buyers to other states and illicit markets.
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Testimony: The negative impacts of Columbus’ proposed ban on flavored tobacco
Flavor bans at the local level have little effect on public health and potentially disastrous consequences for communities of color.
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Over 100,000 died from drug overdoses in 2021 as public policy drives people to fentanyl
Accepting a false narrative will likely prevent policymakers and the public from confronting the true underlying cause of the drug-overdose crisis.
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How a federal tobacco tax increase would impact West Virginia
If Congress wants to help West Virginia achieve better public health outcomes, it should look to increase access to safer smoking alternatives like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
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Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs: Effects on Opioid Prescribing and Drug Overdose Mortality
This study finds that Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs fail to reduce opioid overdoses and increase the use of black market opioids.
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How State Policies Are Worsening The U.S. Doctor Shortage
The COVID-19 crisis has exposed the ways in which state policies that restrict out-of-state doctors from practicing within their borders hurt the nation's healthcare system.
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Experts Question Study Claiming E-Cigarettes Are a COVID-19 Risk Factor
A number of experts responded swiftly to the study's abnormal findings that lacked a credible causal theory.
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As Purdue Pharma Takes the Fall, Don’t Forget the Government’s Role In the Opioid Crisis
Government policies have forced or encouraged pain patients to turn to more dangerous drugs, including heroin and fentanyl.
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How California’s Flavored Tobacco Ban Will Hurt Communities and Budgets
Prohibitions on flavored tobacco products can lead to over-policing in disadvantaged communities and hurt state and local budgets.
