Michael Makowsky
Michael Makowsky is Associate Professor of Economics at Clemson University. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University.
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 | 8 |
| Median Survey Vote | Median Survey Confidence |
|---|---|
| Agree | 8 |
Pardoning state convictions for simple possession of marijuana will have meaningful social benefits that exceed any social costs.
| Vote | Confidence |
|---|---|
| Strongly Agree | 9 |
| Median Survey Vote | Median Survey Confidence |
|---|---|
| Agree | 8 |
Comments
State convictions of simple possession being far more common than federal, I think the benefits from pardoning state convictions stand to be significant. I am quite confident that the costs will be trivial, resulting in a meaningful net improvement in the lives of those with possession records and their families.
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 | 5 |
| Median Survey Vote | Median Survey Confidence |
|---|---|
| Agree | 8 |
Comments
While I have some uncertainty regarding the magnitudes of the benefits from these pardons given the paucity of federal convictions, I am quite confident that the costs will be trivial, resulting in a meaningful net improvement in the lives of those with possession records and their families.