Two Suffolk University students, Andrea Blasdale (Sociology) and Kristen Salera (MSCJS) presented the results of their five month research project on Suffolk students' attitudes about marijuana decriminalization at the Eastern Sociological Society Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.

Their research indicates that college students are reasonably open-minded about the liberalization of marijuana laws in Massachusetts. The majority of the sample (87%) supports the law that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of the drug. Penalties for possession of less than an ounce is now punishable by a civil fine of $100. This liberal attitude toward marijuana extends to future laws regarding its use. The majority of students would consider supporting legislation that permitted medical (79%) and economic use through taxation (65%). Assuming that the students at Suffolk University are not vastly different ideologically from other college students in Massachusetts, Blasdale and Salera considered if further liberalization of the prohibitions on marijuana might be a reasonable approach.

Research indicates that marijuana has medical uses. If the drug was legally available for medical uses, taxes could be collected from not just the consumer, but from the grower, processor and distributor. These monies could be used to offset some of the budget shortfalls currently faced in Massachusetts. Further liberalizing our laws on marijuana use, making it legal, could vastly decrease the amount of money needed to enforce the laws on prohibition. According to Miron and Waldock (2010) Massachusetts spends $92 million on enforcement of anti-marijuana laws. Additionally if the drug was taxed an additional revenue stream of $65 million could be created.

Blasdale and Salera are aware of the potential arguments against the liberalization of marijuana. Will more people use the drug? Their research indicates that there was a small increase in usage post passage of the law. Will younger and younger children find the drug attractive because of legal status? Will the drug potency increase as people develop tolerance to the drug? Will we see a spoke in the number of people who become addicted with an accompanying increase in medical problems? Is marijuana the gateway drug to more harmful substances? Their research indicates a very slight increase in illegal drug use. All of these questions remain unanswered.

Blasdale and Salera's research indicates that attitudes may now exist that may permit answering some of these questions. Massachusetts may now be in a position to try an alternative approach to the current situation where large numbers of people are using an illegal drug, prohibition is costly and ineffective, we lose potential tax revenue and cannot offer the medical benefits to those who are suffering. The Center for Crime and Justice Policy Research sponsored this research.