Jamein Cunningham

Cornell University Website

Jamein Cunningham is Assistant Professor of Policy Analysis and Management and Economics at Cornell University. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan.

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 5
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree 8
Comments

Not sure if it will have meaning social benefits, but the benefits should exceed the cost. Although pardoning federal convictions is a step in the right direction - it does not reduce the social harm already inflicted by previous contact with the criminal justice system. Also, the federal government plays a much smaller role in convicting and incarcerating individuals for drug-related offenses.

Pardoning state 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
Comments

Pardoning individuals is just one step. Decriminalizing marijuana possession will only have positive spillover effects if local police do not shift patrolling activities to target quality-of-life offenses. If so, a less punitive approach to marijuana would likely be offset by a more aggressive approach to combating other criminal offenses. Therefore, decriminalizing marijuana should also be accompanied by new policing strategies to deter serious offenses.

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
Agree 8
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree 8
Comments

Legalizing marijuana at the federal level has implications beyond the criminal legal system; for instance, it would open up the cannabis industry to banking, investment opportunities, and potential trade markets.