Emily Owens
Emily Owens is Professor in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society, and the Department of Economics at the University of California-Irvine. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Maryland-College Park.
Voting History
Marijuana reform
Pardoning federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana will have meaningful social benefits that exceed any social costs.
Vote | Confidence |
---|---|
Agree | 7 |
Median Survey Vote | Median Survey Confidence |
---|---|
Agree | 8 |
Pardoning state convictions for simple possession of marijuana will have meaningful social benefits that exceed any social costs.
Vote | Confidence |
---|---|
Strongly Agree | 9 |
Median Survey Vote | Median Survey Confidence |
---|---|
Agree | 8 |
Comments
This would be a much bigger deal in states that have not yet done this, although again, it depends on how what such convictions have meant for people in practice. In terms of incarceration (versus police contact), generally these convictions primarily create/increase criminal history, which then has its own social and CJ consequences.
Moving marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a less-restrictive schedule or legalizing it at the federal level would have meaningful social benefits that exceed any social costs.
Vote | Confidence |
---|---|
Strongly Agree | 10 |
Median Survey Vote | Median Survey Confidence |
---|---|
Agree | 8 |
Comments
At minimum, this would make it easier to conduct credible research on the costs and benefits of marijuana consumption, so society could have a more clear picture of the implications of expanded use.
Comments
This will primarily be a change in the spirit of Federal policy; Federal convictions for simple marijuana possession are just not really something that happens very often.