Dazed and Confused: Difficulties for Law Enforcement During Oregon's Transition to a Legal Marijuana Market
Sponsor
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research project was funded in part by an Illegal Marijuana Markets Enforcement grant to Deschutes County Oregon from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission.
Published In
Police Quarterly
Document Type
Citation
Publication Date
12-24-2022
Abstract
As more states legalize recreational cannabis, questions remain about the impact of this transition for police who continue to be responsible for enforcing laws governing illicit production and distribution of the drug, use of the substance in prohibited settings, and possession by juveniles. Legalization may also lead to additional responsibilities, including policing homegrown cannabis and licensed businesses involved in cultivating, processing, and selling the drug. Documenting the experience of law enforcement officers in states that have already transitioned to a legal market may provide important insights into the implementation of cannabis policies in other jurisdictions. The present study surveyed 301 law enforcement officers in Oregon three years after the state legalized recreational marijuana. Results indicate that officers perceive increases in many marijuana-related problems following legalization and most officers report that the state’s revised statutes are confusing and difficult to enforce. Implications for public policy are discussed.
Rights
Copyright © 2023 by SAGE Publications
Locate the Document
DOI
10.1177/10986111221147697
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/39512
Citation Details
Henning, K., Matsuda, M., & Stewart, G. (2022). Dazed and Confused: Difficulties for Law Enforcement During Oregon’s Transition to a Legal Marijuana Market. Police Quarterly, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10986111221147697