Legalizing Marijuana: Drug Policy Reform and Prohibition Politics

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This book is a frontal assault on the federal government's almost century-long campaign against marijuana in all its formscultivation, growing, selling, and recreational and medicinal use. Beginning with the anti-pot campaign of the first unofficial drug czar, Harry Anslinger, in the 1930s and continuing wiht only minor differences in emphasis through the recent Reagan, Clinton, and two Bush administrations, federal efforts to stamp out every form of marijuana use involve ignoring the independent reports of numerous federal commissions; supporting provably false claims about marijuana's effects; acquiescing to conservative law enforcement and religious groups' condemnatory agendas; generating a climate of fear in the electorate in order to cultivate messianic images for politicians; and ultimately governing in a way that does a disservice to all involved.

Reviews

.,."[S]cathing legal analysis of the folly of the United States war on pot. The author has concisely depicted the distortions, hypocrisy, and fear mongering of high ranking federal officials who have immeasurably harmed many individuals as well as the integrity of our criminal justice system."-Joseph D. McNamara, Research Fellow, The Hoover Institution Stanford University
"Rudy Gerber's not the first judge to speak out against the drug war, and he won't be the last, but he makes a very special contribution with this fine book: a critical review of the nation's disastrous marijuana prohibition policy, informed both by twenty years on the bench and the distinctive role of Arizona in the drug policy reform politics of the past decade."-Ethan Nadelman, Executive Director Drug Policy Alliance
"Rudolph Gerber, a judge, presents the case in favor of marijuana legalization, at least for medical use, citing a host of research studies, which he claims have been ignored for decades. His discussion of the history of the marijuana debate through presidential administrations since Kennedy is especially enlightening....[d]ebaters on the issue of medical use will find much ammunition in this book."-Library Media Connection
A readable, reasonable, and well-documented history and analysis of a silly problem that richly deserves de-problemizing.-Future Survey
Rudolph Gerber, a judge, presents the case in favor of marijuana legalization, at least for medical use, citing a host of research studies, which he claims have been ignored for decades. His discussion of the history of the marijuana debate through presidential administrations since Kennedy is especially enlightening....[d]ebaters on the issue of medical use will find much ammunition in this book.-Library Media Connection
This volume is well written and documented. It comes as a breath of fresh air amid a policy issue that is so often dealt with in an emotional and irrational way--a sane counterpoint to the emotional venting of the pharmaceutical Calvinists. Highly recommended. All levels.-Choice
"A readable, reasonable, and well-documented history and analysis of a silly problem that richly deserves de-problemizing."-Future Survey
"This volume is well written and documented. It comes as a breath of fresh air amid a policy issue that is so often dealt with in an emotional and irrational way--a sane counterpoint to the emotional venting of the pharmaceutical Calvinists. Highly recommended. All levels."-Choice

Author Bio

RUDOLPH J. GERBER is a retired appellate judge who served on the Arizona Court of Appeals until 2001. Currently a praciticing attorney in Phoenix, he is also on the faculty of the School of Justice Studies at Arizona State University.