Mathew R. Swinburne, J.D., is the Senior Advisor for the Network for Public Health Law’s Eastern Team, which is housed at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. He is a recognized national expert in cannabis law and policy. His cannabis work includes advising legislators, state and local agencies, law enforcement, community-based organizations, and non-profits on critical issues related to medical and adult-use policy. Appointed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Mathew is a member of Maryland’s Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council. In addition to his work at the Network, Mathew developed and taught the State and Federal Cannabis Law and Policy course for the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program. The course is one of the first of its kind in the country. He is also an attorney advisor for the University of Maryland’s Public Health Law Clinic and has taught public health law and ethics for the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health.
When Amazon purchased Wholefoods for $13.7 billion in 2017, most people did not think of how this might affect low-income Americans living in food deserts. However, thanks to the 2014 Farm Bill, the power of online food retail will soon help increase food access for some of the 41.2 million Americans struggling with food insecurity.
Tax incentives can be an effective legal intervention for advancing the public’s health. In this Q&A, Mathew Swinburne, Associate Director at the Network's Eastern Region Office, discusses ways in which tax deductions are being used to address a key barrier to improving the health status of ex-offenders: the inability to secure employment because of conviction status.
One of the key barriers to improving the health status of ex-offenders is the inability to secure employment because of their conviction status. Unemployment is associated with a number of negative health results, including mental health issues like depression, and lack of medical coverage. This Policy Brief examines ways in which states are using tax deductions to encourage employers to hire individuals from chronically unemployed populations, including ex-offenders.
In the U.S., 42.2 million people lack access to adequate food due to insufficient income or other resources. Food insecurity is associated with a wide range of health issues including depression, anxiety, behavioral problems in children, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Conversely, it’s estimated that between 30 to 40 percent of the U.S. food supply is wasted. This waste, in turn, generates substantial greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. Tax incentives for food donations could be one policy approach to address these issues.
The movement to legalize the intrastate sale of raw milk continues despite warnings from the FDA and CDC that its consumption is a health risk. Federal law prohibits selling or transportation of raw milk, but there is decreased regulation within states. In the first month of 2017, five states have already introduced raw milk legislation to allow or expand its sale within their borders.
