Michelle Minton
Senior Policy Analyst, Reason Foundation
Michelle Minton is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation.
With a focus on consumer policy issues, including gambling, alcohol, tobacco and nicotine, drug legalization, and health, Minton has authored numerous studies, including such topics as the effectiveness and unintended consequences of sin taxes, the history of gambling regulation, and the harmful consequences of drug war-styled policies on public health outcomes. Her analyses have been published and cited by nationally respected news outlets such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, as well as peer-reviewed journals. She regularly appears in news media to discuss the unintended effects of laws and rules designed to save adults from their own choices, an approach that not only conflicts with the principles of individual liberty and bodily autonomy but often also the stated goals of public health policy.
Minton holds a Bachelor of Arts from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Science from the University of New England.
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New data shows no surge in problem gambling following sports betting expansion
A free, competitive, and well-monitored market is the best way to keep betting fair, safe, and aboveboard.
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Ohio Senate Bill 86 would needlessly restrict the hemp industry
Ohio should develop a balanced regulatory framework instead of pushing hemp products into the overly restrictive marijuana dispensary system.
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Optimal framework for the state regulation of hemp cannabinoids
The hemp cannabinoid market has grown into a $3 billion interstate industry.
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Georgia Senate Bill 33 would implement restrictive THC thresholds
Georgia Senate Bill 33 sets a total THC threshold of 0.3% for intoxicating cannabinoids, encompassing all forms of THC and related compounds.
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Texas Senate Bill 3 would harm the state’s hemp industry
Instead of outright prohibition, Texas legislators should develop a more balanced regulatory framework for hemp products.
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Model legislation for optimal state regulation of hemp cannabinoids
Reason Foundation’s model legislation offers a clear and practical framework for states seeking to regulate adult-use hemp cannabinoids effectively.
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Intoxicating hemp products in Ohio need regulation, not prohibition
A prohibition on intoxicating hemp would be a step backward for Ohio, pushing demand underground and exposing consumers to risk and uncertainty.
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Court ruling underscores the need for sensible hemp rules in New Jersey
Following a federal court ruling last month, the partial suspension of New Jersey’s recently adopted hemp law could be a golden opportunity for lawmakers.
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Banning hemp products won’t protect public health or foster fairness for marijuana businesses
State lawmakers should aim for sensible regulations focused on consumer protection and transparency in both industries.
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California’s emergency hemp rules could block access to life-saving therapies
California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently proposed emergency regulations to ban hemp products with 'any detectable quantity' of THC.
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The case for a surgeon general’s report on e-cigarettes
Nearly two decades of research on e-cigarettes has repeatedly vindicated e-cigarettes as a lower-risk alternative to combustible smoking.
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Colorado Proposition JJ seeks to retain sports betting tax revenue for water projects
Currently, all sports betting tax revenue in Colorado is directed toward a Water Plan Implementation Fund.
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A framework for federal and state hemp-derived cannabinoid regulation
The growing popularity of hemp-derived products has stimulated significant legislative attention in recent years, with over 90 regulatory proposals introduced in state legislatures in 2024 alone.
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The hidden costs of New York’s cannabis social equity program
New York’s cannabis equity program risks doing more harm than good to those it was designed to help while also distorting the state’s adult-use cannabis market.
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The prospects and perils of rescheduling cannabis
Rescheduling marijuana brings obvious benefits but also potential drawbacks that may require congressional action.
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Marijuana rescheduling is good news, but California still needs to reduce state taxes and regulations
California lawmakers need to do their part by reducing taxes and unnecessary regulations on legal cannabis products.
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Fentanyl in e-cigarettes: The making of a myth
There is no evidence of a nicotine e-cigarette testing positive for fentanyl.
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Getting cannabis legalization right in Hawaii
Hawaii may be poised to become the 25th state to legalize the recreational use of cannabis for adults aged 21 and over.
