Medicinal Marijuana: The Mechanics of Utilizing State Initiatives For Drug Policy Reform

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the history and evolution of the initiative process, the medicinal marijuana debate, and the mechanics of successful medicinal marijuana initiatives. To provide an analysis of the mechanics, a comparison between states that have previously passed such popular legislation and of a state that actively uses the initiative process will be conducted. Drawing on case studies of successful marijuana initiatives, this paper aims to identify prominent characteristics and processes evident and assess them against a state to determine the probabilities of initiative placement and success.