Drug Policy

Drug Policy - Professor Rob Bovett

• Course Number: LAW-383
• Course Type: Highly Specialized
• Credits: 2
• Enrollment Limit: Determined by the Registrar
• Description:  Drug policy has been changing rapidly across Oregon, the United States, and internationally. While most illicit drugs remain a controlled substance under federal law, many states have legalized medical or recreational use of cannabis, or both, and some states have reduced the crime level of illicit drug possession, with Oregon recently being the first state in the nation to decriminalize illicit drug possession.

This class covers a wide range of legal issues related to drug policy. In particular, it surveys the legal aspects of federal drug regulation, the state and federal controlled substances acts, and emerging legalized markets for cannabis and psilocybin, using Oregon as its state-level focal point. Topics surveyed in this class include constitutional law, federalism, conflict of laws, search and seizure, social justice, addiction and mental illness, overdose deaths, burdens on the healthcare system, mass incarceration, public health and safety, prevention, treatment, enforcement, and harm reduction, among others. Experts in some of these areas will provide guest lectures to help frame the issues for students.

Considering the complexity of drug policy, as well as the current relevancy of drug policy to many of the most fraught public policy topics listed above, a variety of opinions from experts and students is both expected and encouraged. Critical thinking skills and a high tolerance for diversity of opinions are prerequisites.

Students participate in a two-hour class once a week. The learning objectives are:

(1) You should be able to understand and explain the legal and policy framework of drug regulation federally and in Oregon, and its related effects;

(2) You should be able to develop practical proposals and advocacy strategies for addressing public health and safety challenges resulting from addiction; and

(3) You should be able to gain an appreciable understanding of the manner in which practicing attorneys and their clients are directly impacted by federal and state drug policies.

• Prerequisite: none
• Evaluation Method: 80% of grade based on term paper; 20% based on class participation
• Capstone: no
• WIE: no