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 Ph.D. 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 Congress’ Proposed Marijuana Banking Reform Would Boost Government Budgets
Marijuana banking law reforms could help the economy, state and local governments, small businesses, and be a net positive to the federal budget.
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Bill Would Allow Gig Economy Workers to Get Personal Protection Equipment From Companies
Many unnecessary federal regulations have prevented adequate access to PPE.
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Smoking, Vaping and the Risks From COVID-19
The CDC has provided no evidence to suggest that smoking increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
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Why Policymakers Are Wrong to Use the Coronavirus Crisis to Push Vaping Bans
There’s no research supporting the claims being used to try to ban e-cigarettes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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How Marijuana Prohibition Contributed to the Vaping Lung-Injury “Epidemic”
States with legalized marijuana reported fewer lung injuries per million people than states that have not yet permitted recreational cannabis.
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It’s Time to Free the Pharmaceutical Market From Government Control
It’s the government’s fault that drug prices are so high.
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California Considers Statewide Ban on All Flavored Tobacco Products
State lawmakers are moving to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and cigars.
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These Proposed Vaping and Smoking Restrictions Are Neither Necessary Nor Fair
Congress is poised to eliminate half of the tobacco industry.
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The Nanny State Comes For Menthol Cigarettes
History shows that banning a product such as menthol cigarettes disproportionately harms racial minorities as law enforcement targets the people buying and selling them.
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Study Finds Minnesota’s Taxes on E-Cigarettes Led to an Increase in Smoking of Traditional Cigarettes
The report's authors then postulate that if the same tax was levied across the entire United States, 1.8 million fewer people would quit smoking over a 10-year period.
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CDC Survey Shows Flavors Aren’t Driving Youth Vaping
The CDC finds only 22 percent of young people say they tried e-cigarettes because they “are available in flavors, such as mint, candy, fruit or chocolate.”
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The Criminal Justice Implications of Raising the Tobacco Age to 21
Do we really want to give 20-year-olds criminal records for vaping?
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Public Health Officials Should Support E-Cigarettes In Effort to Make Conventional Cigarettes Obsolete
Public Health England concluded that e-cigarettes are about 95 percent safer than conventional cigarettes.
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Why a Vaping Ban Would Be Terrible for Public Health
A vaping ban in California, or nationwide, would disastrously force legal adult vapers to buy products on the dangerous black market, increase vaping-related deaths and drive up traditional cigarette smoking rates.
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Why the FDA Shouldn’t Ban or Overregulate E-Cigarette Products
If every conventional cigarette smoker in the U.S. switched to e-cigarettes, 6.6 million fewer current smokers would die premature deaths, a study showed.
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FDA’s Grotesque Cigarette Warnings Images Are Ineffective, Have Been Found Unconstitutional in the Past
Research finds adding images to existing tobacco warnings has little additional effect on current smokers.
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In Colorado, and Other States, Legalizing Drug Checking Kits Would Save Lives
Drug checking kits can help drug users avoid taking street drugs laced with more dangerous drugs.
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California’s Proposed Opioid Tax Would Hurt Patients
Cancer patients, wounded veterans, and many others suffering from incurable pain would consistently be paying the state’s opioid tax.