Social Policy

The Legalization of Marijuana

ON TOPIC

The legalization of marijuana by Colorado and Washington State is a first for drug policy and represents the escalation of state-federal conflicts over hot-button issues. As public opinion becomes increasingly at odds with federal marijuana law, are there win-win solutions? Brookings scholars and other experts look for sustainable, sensible paths forward.

A variety of medical marijuana strains are seen at marijuana dispensary Alpine Herbal Wellness in Denver (REUTERS/Rick Wilking).

Paper

Marijuana Policy and Presidential Leadership: How to Avoid a Federal-State Train Wreck

April 11, 2013, Stuart S. Taylor, Jr.

Stuart Taylor, Jr. examines how the federal government and the eighteen states (plus the District of Columbia) that have partially legalized medical or recreational marijuana or both since 1996 can be true to their respective laws. Taylor offers suggestions in order to avoid federal-state clashes that would increase confusion and harm communities and consumers.

Recent Activity

Refine by: Federalism | Crime | Counternarcotics Policy | Latin America and the Caribbean

  • In the News

    How would a crackdown backfire? Because it would produce, immediately in Colorado, and eventually in other states, an atomized, anarchic state legalized but unregulated marijuana market that federal drug enforcers lack the manpower to contain and lack the legal power to force the states to contain.

    May 8, 2013, Stuart S. Taylor, Jr., KCRW

Get Updates

The Legalization of Marijuana

See More Research From