Medical Marijuana and Marijuana Legalization

The Legalization of Marijuana

The movement to legalize marijuana is a war being waged at the ballot box of many states. The movement is sponsored by a small group attempting to dictate changes in laws surrounding the use, as well as the cultivation and distribution of marijuana. Organizations such as NORML (National Organization for Reformed Marijuana Laws); The Lindesmith Center; and, the Drug Policy Group are pushing the ...

Has Marijuana Legalization Increased Marijuana Use Among US Youth?

Since 2012, citizens in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washingtonhave voted to legalize the recreational use ofmarijuana by adults. Advocates of legalization have argued that prohibition wastes scarce law enforcement resourcesbyselectivelyarrestingminorityusers of a drug that has fewer adverse health effects than alcohol.1,2 It would be better, theyargue, to legalize, regulate,andtaxmarijuana, l...

A Perspective on Marijuana Legalization

Medical Marijuana Laws and Illegal Marijuana Use

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have passed laws that allow individuals to use marijuana for medical purposes. In this paper, I use marijuana possession arrests and treatment referrals by medical professionals to estimate the impact of medical marijuana laws on marijuana usage among non-patients. I find that these laws increase marijuana arrests among adult males by about 20%. The...

The implications of marijuana legalization in Colorado.