ABSTRACT
One of the fundamental questions in American politics is the extent to which government should regulate individual behavior to promote the public good. The debate over drug use strikes at the heart of this conflict between the widely-shared values of freedom and public safety. In particular, marijuana legalization has taken center stage in the drug legalization debate. Although Americans have become increasingly supportive of legalizing marijuana in recent years, there remain concerns over its effects on individuals and society. This chapter focuses on the general tradeoff between individual liberty to consume drugs versus the government’s ability to promote the public good. Another important part of this debate is whether federal or state governments should decide the legality of marijuana.
