Prosecuting Cannabis: Approaches from States without Legalization

Over the last decade, a large number of states have adopted various forms of marijuana reform. To date, 21 states have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes and 38 have legalized medical marijuana use. While public opinion polls suggest that the vast majority of people support marijuana legalization, less is known about the opinions and policies of prosecuting attorneys in states that have not yet legalized marijuana for any purpose. 

On May 17, Drug Enforcement and Policy Center and the Prosecutors and Politics Project at UNC School of Law held a conversation with a panel of legal experts and academics. Panelists discussed results from a recent study of marijuana enforcement and examined how different district attorney offices approach marijuana offenses.

Panelists:
Amy Ullrick, Project Manager, Prosecutors and Politics Project, University of North Carolina 
Sam Kamin, Professor, Chauncey G. Wilson Memorial Research Chair, University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Zachary Price, Eucalyptus Foundation Endowed Chair, University of California College of the Law, San Francisco
Lauren Ouizel, Professor of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Ryan Mears, Prosecutor, Marion County, Indiana

Moderator:
Carissa Byrne Hessick, Anne Shea Ransdell and William Garland "Buck" Ransdell, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina