Benjamin Hansen

University of Oregon Website

Benjamin Hansen is the W.E. Miner Professor of Economics at the University of Oregon. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Voting History

Marijuana reform

Pardoning federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana will have meaningful social benefits that exceed any social costs.

Vote Confidence
Strongly Agree 10
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree 8
Comments

There are vast economic and racial differences in prosecution for marijuana possession. Pardoning these convictions will help people to have more economic opportunities.

Pardoning state convictions for simple possession of marijuana will have meaningful social benefits that exceed any social costs.

Vote Confidence
Strongly Agree 10
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree 8
Comments

There are vast economic and racial differences in prosecution for marijuana possession. Pardoning these convictions will help people to have more economic opportunities.

Moving marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a less-restrictive schedule or legalizing it at the federal level would have meaningful social benefits that exceed any social costs.

Vote Confidence
Strongly Agree 10
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree 8
Comments

Marijuana's scheduling is one of the chief obstacles in helping to reduce the negative externalities marijuana can have. As a schedule I drug, we are limited in the medical research we can do. Some people drive high, and this is a negative externality. Others drive having recently smoked in the last few days or weeks. Current tests don't distinguish between the two. At the same time, I worry about big tobacco taking over the industry, so care and appropriate regulation is needed.