Washington vs. Washington (and Colorado): Who Should Decide About Marijuana?

This program was broadcast live on C-SPAN2 and streamed at c-span.org.   

Two states’ recent legalization of marijuana, in defiance of federal drug laws, is creating a new flashpoint in federal-state relations. When the will of a state’s voters comes into direct conflict with the will of Congress, is it wiser for the federal government to seek accommodation or to come down hard in defense of its prerogatives? Who gets to decide, and why?

On January 8, Governance Studies at Brookings and the Washington Office on Latin America hosted a forum on what is at stake in this potential confrontation over legalized marijuana and how best to resolve it. A panel of experts discussed the importance of how the marijuana dispute is handled and how this may influence the federal-state balance on a host of other issues.

Related Event: Legal Marijuana? New Domestic and International Initiatives Challenge the Status Quo