MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION RESEARCH

A Perspective and Commentary

  1. JAMES A. INCIARDI

Article first published online: 7 MAR 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-9125.1981.tb00408.x

Issue

Criminology

Criminology

Volume 19, Issue 1, pages 145–159, May 1981

Additional Information

How to Cite

INCIARDI, J. A. (1981), MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION RESEARCH. Criminology, 19: 145–159. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-9125.1981.tb00408.x

Author Information

  1. James A. Inciardi is Professor and Director, Division of Criminal Justice, University of Delaware. He has extensive teaching. research. field. and clinical experience in the areas of substance abuse and criminal justice. Dr. Inciardi was the director of the National Center for the Study of Acute Drug Reactions at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Vice President of Resource Planning Corpo-ration, and Associate Director of Research at the New York State Narcotic Addiction Control Commission. He is currently editor of Criminology: An Interdisciplinary Journal and has published more than 70 books and articles in the areas of substance abuse, medicine, criminology, and criminal justice.

  1. This article is a revised and expanded version of“Crucia1 variables in marijuana decriminalizarion research,” presenred ar the Technical Review on Merhodology in Drug Policy Research-Decriminalization of Marijuona. Narional Insrirure on Drug Abuse, Rockville. Maryland, March 20-21. 1980.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 MAR 2006
  2. Article first published online: 7 MAR 2006

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Abstract

It can be argued that any objective reexamination of the marijuana laws and reformulation of public policy should necessarily be undertaken within some type of cost/ benefit perspective. As such, a paradigm might be structured which could examine the costs and benefits of the criminalization of marijuana vs. the benefits and costs of its decriminalization. On the one hand, there are the psychosocial costs of marijuana use which include any effects which might flow from the use of the drug. What the benefits of marijuana use might be, beyond the euphoric states and feelings of well being it offers, are yet to be fully determined. Yet by contrast. there are the human, social, and economic costs which flow from the criminalization of marijuana use. It is argued in this commentary that this paradigm can be used as a guide for decriminalization research. A variety of data sets and historical issues are briefly examined which fall within the parameters of this paradigm, and a series of research protocols which flow from the paradigm are addressed.

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