Date of Conferral
7-8-2025
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Criminal Justice
Advisor
Tony Gaskew
Abstract
Motor vehicles have become both affordable and practical to own. As a result, law enforcement has been tasked with enforcing laws related to safe vehicular operation on the roadways nationwide. Further, much like alcohol, drug influence causes concern for motorists, and with the introduction of cannabis legalization, there is a clash between use, public interaction and vehicle operation. Cannabis consumption in public, the perception that use is allowed anywhere, and the impact that impairment has while driving can be a concern for those tasked with enforcing laws that some perceive to be allowed. This study introduces cannabis legalization within the State of Maryland and the perception of its effects from the perspective of qualified experts in drug impairment police officers who hold current Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) certifications. Through a qualitative research study, operating through the lens of a Policy Feedback Theory foundation, this study explores areas of concern with community interactions, impairment, and overall effects statewide that resulted from cannabis legalization. Emphasis will be placed on interviewing experts in various locations throughout the State, pursuing effects and outcomes within a community, post-legalization, and concluding with exploring recommendations for social change.
Recommended Citation
Brooks, Raymond D., "Drug Recognition Experts’ Perspectives on the State of Maryland’s Legalization of Cannabis and Its Impact on Impaired Driving" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18053.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18053
