Time to Legalize? A Public Discussion on Marijuana Law and Policy

by Barbara Armstrong  |   

"Time to Legalize? A Public Discussion on Marijuana Law and Policy" took place a week after a ballot measure to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for recreational use in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ was officially certified for inclusion in the Aug. 19, 2014, primary election as Ballot Measure 2. (Read the initiative here.) Ballot Measure 2 was eventually moved to the Nov. 4, 2014, general election, and was approved by a vote of 53% to 47%. More than 200 students, faculty, and members of the public attended.

The event was moderated by Jason Brandeis, J.D., Legal Studies faculty in the Justice Center; and Troy Payne, Justice faculty, collected questions from the audience and Twitter via the Justice Center's Twitter account. The program was held March 5, 2014 at Wendy Williamson Auditorium on the UAA campus.  can be found on the the Justice Center blog. The event was sponsored by the Justice Center at Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ (UAA), as part of National Criminal Justice Month 2014, and was co-sponsored by UAA Justice Club.


 

Panelists

Read the panelist biographies.

  • Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director, Drug Policy Alliance, New York City
  • Sheriff Lance Buchholtz (Ret.), Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
  • Ben Cort, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)
  • Dean Guaneli, former Chief Assistant Attorney General for Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ
  • Taylor Bickford, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ
  • Prof. Jason Brandeis,J.D., UAA Justice Center, moderator
  • Dr. Troy Payne, UAA Justice Center, Twitter moderator

 

Event panelists (left to right): Ben Cort, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM); Sheriff Lance Buchholtz (Ret.), Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP); Taylor Bickford, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ; Prof. Jason Brandeis, UAA Justice Center, moderator; Ethan Nadelmann, Drug Policy Alliance; Dean Guaneli, former Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Assistant Attorney General; Dr. Troy Payne, UAA Justice Center. Photo by Barbara Armstrong
Event panelists (left to right): Ben Cort, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM); Sheriff Lance Buchholtz (Ret.), Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP); Taylor Bickford, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ; Prof. Jason Brandeis, UAA Justice Center, moderator; Ethan Nadelmann, Drug Policy Alliance; Dean Guaneli, former Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Assistant Attorney General; Dr. Troy Payne, UAA Justice Center. Photo by Barbara Armstrong

 

Video


 

Media Reports

  • "UAA to Host Discussion on Pot Policy March 5" by Tegan Hanlon. Anchorage Daily News, 27 Feb 2014.
  • "Q&A: Pot Legalization Booster Ethan Nadelmann Makes His Case" by Michelle Theriault Boots. Anchorage Daily News, 4 Mar 2014.
  •  (Includes audio 3:42) by Lori Townsend. Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ News Nightly, Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Public Radio Network, 4 Mar 2014.
  • "Q&A: Anti-Pot Legalization Advocate Makes His Case" by Michelle Theriault Boots. Anchorage Daily News, 5 Mar 2014.
  •  by Lori Townsend. (includes audio: 4:15). Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ News Nightly, Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Public Radio Network, 5 Mar 2014.
  • "UAA Hosts Marijuana Discussion" (video 1:01) by Shannon Ballard. KTVA Channel 11 News, 5 Mar 2014.
  • by Laurel Andrews. Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Dispatch, 6 Mar 2014.
  • "Experts Argue All Sides of Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Marijuana Legalization" (includes video 2:23) by Abby Hancock. KTUU Channel 2 News, 6 Mar 2014.
  •  (audio 1 hour) by Evan Erickson. Addressing Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æns, Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Public Radio Network, 7 Mar 2014. Audio of the full 2-hour event is also available here.
  •  by Scott Christiansen. Anchorage Press, 13 Mar 2014.
  •  by Evan Erickson. The Northern Light, 18 Mar 2014.
  • "My Turn: Marijuana and the Developing Human Brain" (opinion) by Dean Guaneli. Juneau Empire, 4 Apr 2014.