Illicit Drug Policies: Selected Laws from the 50 States

Publication Date:

Publisher:

Author(s): The ImpacTeen Illicit Drug Team

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Report

Abstract:

"Illicit Drug Policies: Selected Laws from the 50 States," prepared by the ImpacTeen Illicit Drug Team, provides the first comprehensive reference guide to selected illicit drug laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The three broad purposes of this report are: (1) to provide those involved in drug policy development, research and enforcement with current information on specific state laws pertaining to drug scheduling and penalties for sale and possession of selected illicit drugs; (2) to demonstrate differences in state and federal approaches to drug policy by highlighting variation in state and federal scheduling of selected illicit drugs and state recognition of medical marijuana; and (3) to document the variation that exists across states in penalty provisions. The ImpacTeen Illicit Drug Team collected data on state illicit drug laws primarily from statutory law and also from research articles, law review articles and reports by policy research groups. These researchers found that substantial variation exists in state statutory approaches to drug policy. Policy analysts and researchers can use this data to initiate research that examines the association between specific criminal justice approaches and the negative consequences and outcomes associated with illicit drug use. The ImpacTeen Illicit Drug Team also plans to create a comprehensive state-level database to further this purpose.