This study uses surveys of citizens and criminal justice employees to illustrate the multidimensional nature of views about decriminalization. Both groups supported strict legal penalties for marijuana offenses and believed that if legal restrictions were eased other types of crime would increase. Ironically, they also expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the law. They believed that even if they had all the resources necessary the police could not stop marijuana use. At the same time they were willing to pay higher taxes for more drug enforcement. This study highlights the problem with treating either decriminalization or criminalization as simple ideas and notes the implications of this for developing public policy.
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