NCJ Number
43880
Editor(s)
J A CASS
Date Published
1977
Length
396 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY REVIEWS THE MEDICAL, LEGAL, AND HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF MARIJUANA USE AND DISCUSSES THE VARIOUS POLICY APPROACHES TOWARD MARIJUANA POSSESSION AND USE WHICH STATES HAVE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE AND A GENERAL BACKGROUND OF USE AND ENFORCEMENT TRENDS ARE SUMMARIZED, AND MEDICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES ARE OUTLINED. THE EXPERIENCE OF NINE SELECTED STATES WHICH HAVE ELIMINATED INCARCERATION AS A PENALTY FOR POSSESSION OF SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA AND WHICH HAVE NOT PASSED DECRIMINALIZATION LAWS IS DETAILED. IN A SECOND SECTION OF THE STUDY, THE HISTORICAL, SOCIAL, AND MEDICAL INFORMATION WHICH MAY SERVE AS A BASIS FOR POLICYMAKING IS SUMMARIZED. A POLICYMAKING FRAMEWORK PROVIDES POLICY CHOICES AND A PERSPECTIVE ON THE MORE GENERAL MARIJUANA ISSUES. MORE IMMEDIATE ISSUES, ALONG WITH POSITIONS OF ADVOCATES AND OPPONENTS ON MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT TRENDS ARE SUMMARIZED, AND MEDICAL AND LEGAL THESE ISSUES ARE PRESENTED. A LEGISLATIVE GUIDE FOR POLICYMAKERS WISHING TO CHANGE THEIR STATE'S MARIJUANA LAW DISCUSSES VARIOUS APPROACHES TO THE LAW. THE STUDY OFFERS A DOCUMENTATION OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS TO THE POLICYMAKER. THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IS APPENDED, AND SUPPORTING TABLES AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED.