Author: Neener, Michael C.
Title: Assessing the Cannabis Legalization Debate: Lessons Learned from the Colorado and Washington Experiment
Summary: Cannabis is illegal as far as federal law is concerned; yet recent trends in the United States indicate it
is moving toward more widespread legalization. While both sides of the legalization debate pose valid
arguments, it has been difficult to assess aspects of these arguments in the past. Now that Colorado and
Washington have fully legalized cannabis, what does data demonstrate to support or rebut these
arguments and what problems have sporadic legalization led to in the drug control space? This thesis
examines regulatory, financial, and criminal data in Colorado and Washington to identify advantages and
disadvantages of legalizing cannabis. Findings indicate commercialization of legal cannabis creates a
sizeable economic stimulus due to demand satisfaction and displacement of drug trafficking
organizations for supply. Crime levels increased as compared to national averages while drug arrest rates
remained stable, which could be influenced by other factors. Overall, as a result of disparate national
policy, Colorado and Washington have become source states for cannabis distribution as findings
indicate spillage of legal cannabis into black markets nationally. This thesis recommends rescheduling
cannabis in the Controlled Substances Act to further research the drug while increasing state civil asset
forfeiture options in prohibitionist states to facilitate criminal enforcement
Details: Monterey, CA: Naval Postgraduate School, 2016. 101p.
Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2018 at: https://nps.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma991005398419103791&context=L&vid=01NPS_INST:01NPS&lang=en&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,assessing%20the%20cannabis%20legalization%20debate
Year: 2016
Country: United States
URL:
Shelf Number: 151561
Keywords:
Cannabis LegislationDrug Policy
Marijuana Legalization
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