Mainstreaming Marijuana: Differential Perspectives on Decriminalization and Penal Abolition

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

By honoring different perspectives on decriminalization and penal abolition, the papers in this panel examine the potential of each to further criminal justice reform in contemporary America. With reform receiving bipartisan support by numerous state and federal law makers, “decriminalization” seems to be the policy buzz word of the day. President Obama stated, "We may be able to make some progress on the decriminalization side…At a certain point, if enough states end up decriminalizing, then Congress may then reschedule marijuana." Now that dozens of states have decriminalized the use of medicinal marijuana and Washington, Alaska, Colorado, and Oregon (along with Washington D.C.) have decriminalized the recreational use of marijuana for adults (21+ years of age), the question remains whether or not “decriminalization” or “penal abolition” provides the most effective way to curtail America’s penchant for mass incarceration. Participants will address the “war” logic of drug prohibition and the need to make peace with the marijuana using proclivities of otherwise law abiding citizens. Participants will also question the ability of moral entrepreneurs and claims makers to embrace contemporary drug decriminalization initiatives while concomitantly advocating for decarceration, via penal abolition.

Sub Unit

• Area X: Perceptions and Responses to Crime and Justice / 61: Activism and Social Movements

Individual Presentations

• Decriminalization from a Penal Abolition Perspective - Michael J. Coyle, California State University, Chico; Elizabeth Gomez-Logan, California State University, Chico

• Employment/investment entry into the marijuana production market during decriminalization - Brooks Louton, Arizona State University

• From Seed to Sale: Putting Foucault to Work and the Recreationalization of Marijuana in Denver, Colorado - Jeffrey M. London, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Chair

• Emily Troshynski, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Discussant

• Danielle Dirks, Occidental College