Grassroots Model of Drug Laws

The grassroots approach to drug laws is defined as any spontaneous, independent social movement that endeavors to influence existing drug laws and policies. Grassroots movements are citizen-initiated and citizen-controlled voluntary efforts that typically work to promote social change; some might advocate strengthening existing drug laws by increasing sanctions or criminalizing a wider range of drug activity, whereas others might support the weakening or abolition of prevailing drug laws and penalties. It is also possible, however, for a grassroots organization to urge resistance to changes to the status quo and to galvanize against perceived threats to existing laws and policies that it supports.

One of the most famous grassroots movements in favor of tougher drug laws is Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD). Organized by Candice Lightner in ...