Answer the following: 2 paragraphs to half a page per question is okay. 1. Theoretical..

Answer the following: 2 paragraphs to half a page per question is okay.

1. Theoretical Explanations for Drug Use

Consider the three categories of criminological theory (biological, psychological, and sociological) and their explanations for illicit drug use. Select the individual criminological theory within one of these three categories that you think best explains drug use and support your selection.

Explain why you selected this theory rather than one of the other theoretical explanations for illicit drug use.

Explain how drug policy could be shaped from this theoretical explanation for drug use.

1. Schedule of Drugs

Review the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Schedule of Drugs Links. https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling.Consider the criteria that is used to determine a drug’s classification provided on the DEA’s website, in addition to the effects of these drugs discussed in the assigned chapters in your text.

Identify and discuss the different criteria that are used to determine a drug’s classification by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Based upon your review of information, would you change anything about the drugs listed in category 1 of the drug schedule? Justify your response.

1. Marijuana and Law Enforcement

Many states and Washington, D.C. have decriminalized “nominal” amounts of marijuana and have medical marijuana provisions. This means that many other states and the federal government continue to classify marijuana strictly as an illicit drug.

Review Marijuana overview and state medical marijuana laws (Links http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx)

, with a focus on challenges for penalties and enforcement, then respond to the following:

Review the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Schedule of Drugs Links to an external site. https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling.

Consider the criteria that is used to determine a drug’s classification provided on the DEA’s website, in addition to the effects of these drugs discussed in the assigned chapters in your text.

Consider the burden of enforcing marijuana laws.

Discuss the difficulties of classifying the same drug differently in different parts of the country.

Can we justify criminalizing behavior in one state that is legal in other states?

1. Prescription Drug Abuse

Review the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) report, Misuse of prescription drugs, link to an external site: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/summary, in addition to the video, The dark side of Adderall and other ‘study drugs.’Link: http://fod.infobase.com.vlib.excelsior.edu/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=53278

. [Video size, 14 min 33 sec]

Describe the factors that have led to the increase in the misuse of prescription drugs in the United States, and the criminal justice response to this problem. Explain whether these factors are a public safety problem or a public health issue.

1. Drug Enforcement and the Criminal Justice System

Review the report on the effects of U.S. drug policy by The Sentencing Project available at The Sentencing Project Links to an external site, http://www.sentencingproject.org/issues/drug-policy/, and watch the interview with a former police captain on the war on drugs hosted by the Law Enforcement Action Partnership Links to an external site. https://lawenforcementactionpartnership.org/our-issues/drug-policy/

Respond to the following:

Identify the part of the criminal justice system you believe is the most burdened or affected by existing drug control policy in the United States and explain why this part is most burdened or affected.

Explain one strategy that could be applied or employed to alleviate this burden. This strategy could include expanding funding to assist the overburdened agency you identified, it could involve changing existing drug laws, etc. Be specific.

1. Race, Gender, and Drugs

Explain the impact that drug laws have had upon racial minorities and women. Use research to support your response.

1. Drug Offenders and Drug Court

There are over 3,000 drug courts in the United States. These specialized courts attempt to address offenders’ drug use and subsequent criminal activity through intensive monitoring and treatment services.

Respond to the following:

Briefly describe the extent of the offender population that is involved with drug use.

Identify the strengths and weaknesses of drug courts as a way to address the needs of drug offenders.

Explain whether you support the use of drug courts. Justify your response

1. Alternatives to criminal justice

Can the criminal justice system ever hope to provide the treatment and services that drug offenders need?

Should drug offenders who do not pose a threat to public safety be diverted out of the criminal justice system entirely? Justify your response.

1. The Future of Drug Policy

What do you believe ought to be the future of drug policy in the United States?

If you could change one policy or approach concerning how we address drug abuse in this country, what would it be?
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