Cannabis from Criminalization to Legalization

This volume brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts to provide a comprehensive examination of the transition from cannabis criminalization to legalization and its multifaceted impact on the criminal justice system.

The legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use has fundamentally altered the relationship between cannabis and the criminal justice system. Policies related to cannabis, which has been historically demonized and criminalized, have disproportionately affected marginalized communities, fueled mass incarceration, and strained law enforcement resources. Today, as legalization gains momentum across states, the criminal justice system is grappling with the legacy of prohibition while navigating new challenges brought by a patchwork of state and federal regulations. The expertise of the chapter contributors spans academia, law, policing, business, and social equity advocacy. These diverse perspectives foster a nuanced examination of cannabis policy and its impact on the criminal justice system. By combining historical analysis, policy evaluation, and empirical research, the collection works to illuminate the complexities of cannabis policy evolution, acknowledge the enduring consequences of prohibition, and explore pathways toward a more equitable and effective approach to cannabis regulation in the United States.

This book, which includes discussion questions and power points, is an essential resource for the increasingly prevalent graduate and advanced undergraduate courses and degrees/certificates of study in cannabis policy and the criminal justice system in the United States, and will provide scholars, policymakers, and practitioners with an in-depth understanding of cannabis policy’s implications for policing, the judiciary, corrections, regulators, and society at large.