RAND: Beau Kilmer2026-04-29T16:58:14ZCopyright (c) 2026, The RAND CorporationRAND Corporationhttps://www.rand.org/about/people/k/kilmer_beau.htmlhttps://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2026/04/psychedelics-policy-and-public-opinion-qa-with-beau.htmlPsychedelics, Policy, and Public Opinion: Q&A with Beau Kilmer2026-04-27T16:15:00Z2026-04-27T16:15:00ZBeau Kilmer oversees RAND's research on psychedelic use and policy which informs conversations on the topic and helps decisionmakers think through all the different policy options and to understand the potential trade-offs.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2025/12/making-highways-less-high.htmlMaking Highways Less High2025-12-29T13:00:00Z2025-12-29T13:00:00ZMore than a decade after states began legalizing recreational marijuana, effective policies to counter driving while high don’t exist. What might be done to help make the roads safer?https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/12/where-does-drug-policy-go-from-here.htmlWhere Does Drug Policy Go from Here?2024-12-04T17:10:00Z2024-12-04T17:10:00ZBe careful about overgeneralizing about what lies ahead on drug policy. Whether the Trump administration supports or hinders state efforts to liberalize laws on cannabis and/or psychedelics, as well as its approach to increasing access to substance use disorder treatment, remains to be seen.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/12/treat-psychedelics-like-cannabis.htmlTreat Psychedelics Like Cannabis?2023-12-13T20:30:00Z2023-12-13T20:30:00ZSimilar to cannabis a decade ago, the United States is in the early days of legalizing some psychedelics for nonmedical purposes. Now is the time to make thoughtful choices.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/06/state-and-local-policy-is-changing-for-psychedelics.htmlState and Local Policy Is Changing for Psychedelics. What Will the Feds Do?2023-06-12T20:15:00Z2023-06-12T20:15:00ZPsychedelics are attracting interest as a treatment for some mental health conditions. In response, some states and cities are changing their laws and policies on the supply and use of these mind-altering substances. But like cannabis, most psychedelics are federally prohibited—raising some tough questions for the federal government.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/03/everyone-over-21-has-a-license-to-drink-when-should.htmlEveryone Over 21 Has a 'License to Drink.' When Should It Get Suspended?2023-03-11T10:00:00Z2023-03-11T10:00:00ZExcessive drinking creates massive economic costs because of its effects on workplace productivity, health care expenditures, and crime. This raises the question: Should some people be required to stop drinking?https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2022/10/whats-next-after-bidens-announcement-on-cannabis-and.htmlWhat's Next After Biden's Announcement on Cannabis and Racial Equity?2022-10-11T20:45:00Z2022-10-11T20:45:00ZCannabis legalization isn't just a yes-or-no choice. There are many ways for state and federal policymakers to shape the market and tax it. With deliberations in Washington, D.C., beginning and more states set to vote on the issue in November, now is the time for lawmakers to take stock of how potential changes will or won't help communities of color.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2022/06/what-chesa-boudins-replacement-can-do-about-open-air.htmlWhat Chesa Boudin's Replacement Can Do About Open-Air Drug Dealing2022-06-10T11:30:00Z2022-06-10T11:30:00ZSuccessfully addressing open-air drug dealing in San Francisco will likely require transparency about consequences that drug dealers face; a rethinking of how such crimes are sanctioned; and collaboration between prosecutors, police, and the community.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2021/10/treating-supervised-drug-consumption-sites-like-cannabis.html Treating Supervised Drug Consumption Sites like Cannabis2021-10-22T10:55:00Z2021-10-22T10:55:00ZSome communities hard hit by the opioid crisis are interested in opening supervised consumption sites—places where people who use drugs can do so under supervision of trained staff. What could be done to make it easier to pilot and evaluate these sites in the United States?https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2020/11/being-mindful-about-changing-psychedelic-policy-in.htmlBeing Mindful About Changing Psychedelic Policy in California2020-11-10T18:00:00Z2020-11-10T18:00:00ZThe question for California isn't really if psychedelic policy will change, but more likely how—and how quickly. Now is the time for the California State Legislature to consider holding hearings on psychedelics and creating a commission to assess regulatory options.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2020/08/dont-entangle-covid-19-relief-with-cannabis-legalization.htmlDon't Entangle COVID-19 Relief with Cannabis Legalization2020-08-28T13:35:00Z2020-08-28T13:35:00ZCannabis legalization is a multifaceted decision that has implications for health, safety, and social equity. Whether legalization could fund COVID-19 relief should not be a major focus of debates.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2020/06/revoking-the-license-to-drink-emerging-evidence-on.htmlRevoking the 'License to Drink': Emerging Evidence on Mandatory Sobriety2020-06-29T18:30:00Z2020-06-29T18:30:00ZAfter counties in South Dakota implemented a 24/7 sobriety program, repeat arrests for impaired driving decreased in the counties by an average of 12%. North Dakota implemented a similar program and also saw decreases in impaired driving. Can the same results be achieved outside of the Dakotas?https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2019/10/synthetic-opioid-crisis-still-growing-often-among-unwitting.htmlSynthetic Opioid Crisis Still Growing, Often Among Unwitting Users2019-10-14T17:45:00Z2019-10-14T17:45:00ZAlthough opioid prescriptions in the U.S. have fallen, opioid overdose deaths remain at historic levels. The continued spread of fentanyl and other illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids suggests the problem could still get worse.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2019/09/tackle-fentanyl-like-a-poisoning-outbreak-not-a-drug.htmlTackle Fentanyl like a Poisoning Outbreak, Not a Drug Epidemic2019-09-03T16:00:00Z2019-09-03T16:00:00ZAmerica's fentanyl problem is far deadlier than past crises with other illegal drugs. New ideas, be they public policies, technologies or law enforcement strategies, are desperately needed. Continuing to treat fentanyl just like previous drug epidemics will likely be insufficient and may condemn thousands more to early deaths.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2019/05/chinas-ban-on-fentanyl-drugs-wont-likely-stem-americas.htmlChina's Ban on Fentanyl Drugs Won't Likely Stem America's Opioid Crisis2019-05-22T16:30:00Z2019-05-22T16:30:00ZGiven China's recent decision to ban the unauthorized manufacture of fentanyl, authorities there appear to recognize a growing problem. But China cannot solve the U.S. opioid problem. The United States could do more to reduce demand for opioids as well as drug users' exposure to these powerful drugs.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2019/03/addressing-federal-conflicts-over-supervised-drug-consumption.htmlAddressing Federal Conflicts Over Supervised Drug Consumption Sites2019-03-14T16:15:00Z2019-03-14T16:15:00ZWith drug overdose deaths mounting, some American cities are trying to create designated spaces where people who use heroin and other drugs can have their consumption supervised by medical professionals. The Department of Justice argues these sites would violate federal law, but federal decisionmakers have several options.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2018/12/navigating-cannabis-legalization-20.htmlNavigating Cannabis Legalization 2.02018-12-04T15:57:00Z2018-12-04T15:57:00ZAs the next round of states debate marijuana legalization, they would do well to contemplate allowing state governments to control the wholesale prices and linking the price of cannabis to its potency. https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2018/02/how-will-cannabis-legalization-affect-alcohol-consumption.htmlHow Will Cannabis Legalization Affect Alcohol Consumption?2018-02-13T14:30:00Z2018-02-13T14:30:00ZHow will legalization of recreational marijuana affect alcohol consumption? Will drinking go down because people substitute cannabis for alcohol? Or will drinking go up because cannabis and alcohol complement each other? These questions have important implications.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2017/07/should-california-drop-criminal-penalties-for-drug.htmlShould California Drop Criminal Penalties for Drug Possession?2017-07-20T17:38:00Z2017-07-20T17:38:00ZCalifornians have a lot to consider when it comes to decriminalizing possession. But now is the time for a rigorous discussion about removing criminal penalties for drug possession, rather than rushing to judgment in the heat of a future election season.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2017/04/mixed-messages-is-cocaine-consumption-in-the-us-going.htmlMixed Messages: Is Cocaine Consumption in the U.S. Going Up or Down?2017-04-28T16:15:00Z2017-04-28T16:15:00ZData lags and the elimination of the ADAM program complicate estimates of U.S. cocaine consumption. New users who haven't yet developed cocaine dependence are also a factor. It may be prudent to start planning for an increase in heavy use even before all of the evidence is in.