1+-+POLS359+Marijuana+Decriminalization

=Marijuana Decriminalization= [] Joe A Q: Can a legal argument be made convincingly for decriminalizing Marijuana by making a comparison between it and alchohol prohibition in the 1920's. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/05/marijuana-super-pac_n_2957267.html?utm_hp_ref=marijuana [] [] [] [] [] Ivan Guechev This article isn't specifically about marijuana but rather all drugs and focuses on the before and after effect of decriminalization of all drugs in Portugal and changing from a imprisonment system to a treatment system for those caught with drugs. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g9C6x99EnFVdFuXw_B8pvDRzLqcA?docId=CNG.e740b6d0077ba8c28f6d1dd931c6f679.5e1 This site further examines and categorizes the effect of the decriminalization law in Portugal http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/1219 Has stricter laws deterred people from trying drugs? http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/WDR-2012.html

_ __Andrea R.__ __Q: Why has public perception of marijuana use become more acceptable over time?__ __Q Has marijuana use //actually// become more acceptable, and to what extent?__

__[]__

__This is an article from 1991. Opposing arguments are brought up; for and against legalization. I think I will use this and older publications (when I find them) to try to show the difference in public opinion about marijuana use as more information is discovered about it.__

__[]__

__This article may or may not be useful for everyone, because it is about a case in Ontario, Canada where a court stated that not allowing someone the right to use medicinal marijuana is a violation of their rights. It does talk about the United States legal view towards medicinal marijuana and how many doctors are for the reclassifying of the drug to "prescription." It also lists some diseases that have painful side effects which are lessened by using marijuana.__

__[]__

__This is a very long article, but so far it seems very relevant. Its from the Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. It has everything from how scientists/professors need to apply to study Cannabis (and how their research has been blocked by the DEA), to what they found once they were allowed to research it, as well as the politics behind the cannabis debate. I'm only halfway done with this one.__

__** [|__http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/fashion/for-young-female-pop-stars-____marijuana____-use-ties-into-endorsements.html__] **__ __** "Big Business in Getting High" **__

__This article looks at the role female celebrities (singers) have in the push for marijuana reform. It talks about how they support it in the public eye and how marijuana could soon be something that is endorsed just like any other brand. It makes a claim that female support for cannabis is a very good thing.__

__** [|__http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.cc.uic.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/?__] **__ __** "Legalized pot takes on state of the union" **__ __*This would be good for comparing to prohibition*__ __This is about how marijuana reform was accomplished in Washington. It does not go into too much detail, but it names the key players and the basic idea. You can use this to do further research.__

__[]__ __"Reagan war on dope: how effective in the long run?"__ __This is an article from 1985 after Reagan's announcement on the war on drugs and a three day blitz called Delta 9. I'm using this to show the difference in article language and overall feeling from then and now.__

__[]__ __"The myth of the peaceful marijuana plant"__ __From 1984, another article to look at.. portrays marijuana users as ex-convicts and members of gangs. Interesting to note the difference in language.__

__[]__ __This article ties the US and Mexico (Latin America) together in the "drug war." And talks briefly about how policies in the US affect South America. It also has a good paragraph on Obama's response to new reform laws in Oregon and Washington.__

__[]__ __"Pot on the Patio?"__ __This is an article about the task force who has to create new laws for the marijuana reform in Colorado. It has some statistics and talks about some of the things they have already implemented.__

__[]__ __This is an article from the Journal of Cannabis Theraputis; has a lot of tables and statistics about medicinal marijuana use and how the acceptance of doctors has helped change laws.__

[] International Science Times article about state laws and gallop polls.

[]
 * How Colorado legalized marijuana**

[] Legal document, subcommittee on criminal justice, drug policy and human resources

[] Cannabis legislation on the Ballot Ryan Graham, Jul. "Sociology Lens." //Sociology // 2008 (2008).

http://adai.uw.edu/marijuana/factsheets/whatiscannabis.htm Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute fact sheet on marijuana

- [] Interview with NORML director on marijuana bills for the future.

___ Q: What impact have changes in marijuana law, i.e. decriminalization and medical efforts, had in terms drug usage, addiction, and conviction rates in states willing to make such modifications? Q: To what extent has the changing of marijuana laws accelerated since efforts began to substantially take hold in the 1990's? Additionally what were the most essential factors contributing to any acceleration?
 * Matt P.**

Here are a few interesting articles you guys should check out.

[]

Compares synthetic compunds vs herbal and argues herbal garners less substantial side effects

=**[|Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: Investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence]**=

[|Do Medical Marijuana Laws Increase Marijuana Use? Replication Study and Extension]

[| Occasional Pot Smoking Won't Harm Lungs: Study]