We'ed (for) the People: Pot, Public Opinion, and Drug Policy in the U.S.

Although the federal government has yet to do so, over 20 states and the District of Columbia have enacted recreational marijuana legislation (RML) since 2012 (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2025). We'ed (for) the People argues that such an unprecedented movement—occurring over a short time frame—can best be understood within the context of public opinion.

Many books examining the legalization effort in the U.S. currently exist, and some of these touch upon the influence of public attitudes in exploring the shift in marijuana policy. However, few texts have featured prominently the role of the average citizen in reversing over three decades of firmly rooted "get tough" drug policy in the U.S. We often dismiss public attitudes, judging them as simplistic or misguided and frequently asking, "Who cares what people think?" This position is short-sighted, at least within the context of drug policy.

Perceptions concerning RML—which can be implemented in a variety of ways (e.g., dispensary and retail outlets, home growth)—are nuanced among the public, shaped by broader perceptions of the effects of marijuana (e.g., gateway drug, crime-inducing). Accordingly, the future of legalization hinges on evolving public attitudes toward this unexpected shift in American drug policy. We'ed (for) the People addresses this gap by centering public opinion and experience throughout to explain the dramatic reversal of punitive drug policy in the U.S. over the last fifteen years.

With an emphasis on research and policy, this book appeals to a broad audience, including criminology and criminal justice undergraduates and graduates, academic scholars, and practitioners.

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