An Examination of the Social Policy of Marijuana

• In Event: Attitudes Toward Sentencing Policies

Abstract

This paper examines the process of change in public policy and opinion regarding the use of cannabis in the United States and to gain insight into the reactions of participants concerning the conflicting federal, state and local laws associated with its possession and use. Emphasis is placed on vulnerable groups (poor, minorities, etc.) and the challenges faced at personal and governmental levels. The data for this project has been collected using semi-structured interviews with individuals under the care or supervision of the Department of Corrections. The findings can serve as a voice of those impacted as a source of information for policymakers in developing and/or revisiting existing laws and policies associated with marijuana.

Author

• Dwayne Marshall, Lock Haven University