Marijuana. John Hudak

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      PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION OF MARIJUANA: A SHORT HISTORY

      “Clear. Concise. Compelling. Marijuana: A Short History is a great crash course on the history of cannabis. This is a wonderful book for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the current political landscape, as well as the players and events that have shaped it.”

      —Steph Sherer, executive director, Americans for Safe Access

      “A fresh, sharp, and rigorous look at America’s perverse relationship with pot. John Hudak smashes taboos and nonsense on every page.”

      —Bruce Barcott, author, Weed the People: The Future of Legal Marijuana

      MARIJUANA

      A Short History

      Second Edition

      JOHN HUDAK

      BROOKINGS INSTITUTION PRESS

      Washington, D.C.

      Copyright © 2020

      THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION

      1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.

      Washington, D.C. 20036

       www.brookings.edu

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the Brookings Institution Press.

      The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to research, education, and publication on important issues of domestic and foreign policy. Its principal purpose is to bring the highest quality independent research and analysis to bear on current and emerging policy problems. Interpretations or conclusions in Brookings publications should be understood to be solely those of the authors.

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2020936126

      ISBN 9780815738312 (pbk : alk. paper)

      ISBN 9780815738329 (ebook)

      9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      Typeset in Poynter Oldstyle Text

      Composition by Elliott Beard

      For Michelle Dean

      Contents

       Acknowledgments

       Introduction

       Part I

       A WEED BY ANY OTHER NAME

       1 Cannabis as Plant and Product

       Part II

       THE GOVERNMENT STEPS IN

       2 Early Regulation and a New (Drug) Deal

       3 Marijuana as an Enemy, Foreign and Domestic

       4 Richard Nixon Fires the Opening Shots in the War on Drugs

       5 Prosecuting the War on Drugs

       6 Ronald Reagan Opens New Theaters in the War on Drugs

       Part III

       POT, THE PUBLIC, AND THE POWERFUL

       7 Demographics and Death Reshape Views on Marijuana

       8 Cannabis Use as a Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous

       Part IV

       MARIJUANA REFORM BLOSSOMS INTO PUBLIC POLICY

       9 Decriminalization as the First Retreat from Prohibition

       10 Ganja Gridlock: The Failures of Federal Reform

       11 The Fight for Medical Marijuana

       12 Recreational Marijuana Sprouts in the West

       Part V

       THE FUTURE OF MARIJUANA

       13 Racial Justice and the Future of Marijuana Reform

       14 Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Legalization

       Notes

       Index

      Acknowledgments

      Working on marijuana reform was one of the last things I expected would be part of my career when I began doing political and policy research. I am not an advocate; I am a political scientist. I was not trained in the study of drug policy; I was trained in the study of political institutions, specifically the presidency and the bureaucracy.

      However, sometimes very interesting opportunities fall into your lap, and a new venture becomes a career highlight. Marijuana policy is exactly that. I came to this issue in part by happenstance and largely because a colleague of mine, Jonathan Rauch, encouraged me to ask the types of questions my research focuses on (regulation, personnel, bureaucratic organization, and executive-legislative interaction) and apply it to a new and emerging area of policy: the legalization of adult-use marijuana.

      That spurred an interest in marijuana policy of all types and led to extensive research, many trips and interviews, as well as a nearly obsessive reading into the plant, its products, the people, and the policy. Along the way, I worked with a tremendous group of individuals who approach this issue from all directions—from the full-throated advocate to the staunchest of opponents and everyone in between. Their support, guidance, knowledge, experience, personal stories, and perspectives have helped inform my understanding of marijuana policy and made Marijuana: A Short History what it is.

      Chief among all of the people with whom I have worked is my former colleague and frequent coauthor, Grace Wallack. Grace has an incredible mind for whatever endeavor she undertakes. As in my case, marijuana policy was not a lifelong passion or expected part of her job, but as a team we picked apart some of the most complex issues surrounding marijuana policy and sought to explain them to whomever would listen. It turned out, a lot of people listened. Without her support, intellect, motivation, and ability to keep me on track, the marijuana research emerging from my office would have been a shell of what it is today. She deserves both the highest of praise and my complete gratitude.

      Other Brookings colleagues have helped inform my work, my understanding of marijuana policy, and were excellent sounding boards as this book came to fruition. Christine Stenglein, Phil Wallach, Jon Rauch, Makada Henry-Nickie, Aaron Klein, Ashley Gabriele, the Brookings Creative Lab Team (George Burroughs, Sareen Hairabedian, Mark Hoelscher, Zach Kulzer, Ian McAllister), Emily Perkins, Ashley Bennett, Jessica Brandt, Bob Brier, Brittany Brown-Hart, Stephanie Dahle, Courtney Dunakin, Anna Goodbaum, Christine Jacobs, Dylan Jennings, Elaine Kamarck, Ellie Klein, Curtlyn Kramer, Nick McClellan, Cody Poplin, Camilo Ramirez, Liz Sablich, Jessica Harris, Beth Stone, Strobe Talbott,