Peer Review

Frontline: Busted - America's War on Marijuana

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Reviewed:: Aug 30, 2011 by Criminal Justice

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: BUSTED-America's War on Marijuana, is a good attempt to explain the "marijuana industry and the controversial effort to eradicate it." The learner can read letters written by users and non-users alike voicing their opinions on the drug, take a "marijuana quiz," and read how marijuana effects the body. Interviews has professionals as diverse as a journalist and a judge, to professors, a D.A.R.E. officer and a former DEA agent discussing the history of marijuana and the pros and cons of enforcement policy. Still others discuss ways to "end the drug problem ..." It also gives the learner a chance to be an active participant in "Match the Crime to the Time" i.e., choose the correct average sentence served for various felonies. Learn from those in the know on how effective D.A.R.E. really is, view a Marijuana Timeline, read about Laws, Sentencing & Prices and finally, read Two Case Histories and all about the Grower Who Went Public.
Type of Material:: Case Study (the information presented by the Frontline show is applicable to many different types of material)
Recommended Uses:: On campus and online courses, for individual use or in a group discussion, as a lecture, or presentation.
Technical Requirements:: RealPlayer
Identify Major Learning Goals:: To educate the learner about the history of marijuana, how the body reacts to marijuana, state by state marijuana laws, federal sentencing guidelines for possession of marijuana, and the disparity of sentencing for drug offenses for black and white offenders.
Target Student Population:: College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: None.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: Frontline on PBS continues to offer first-rate, quality and informative programming and "thought-provoking journalism." Busted-America's War on Marijuana viewed on Frontline.org provides a very good understanding of the subject, particularly when it comes to discussing how marijuana affects the body. The text material is easy to access and understand and includes a variety of topics including: Match the crime to the time, How effect is D.A.R.E.?, Laws and sentencing, case histories, and more.
Concerns:: The material presented on the Internet site is informative but is built around the need to have watched the Frontline presentation preferably prior to thoroughly reviewing the Internet material. While the video excerpts provide some context to the material, the context is limited due to the short amount of material from the Frontline material being made available.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The material is effective in how it is presented. Students can easily achieve their learning goals as the material is easy to comprehend, and the concepts are valid. The material would be very easy to write an assignment for. It does take some time to read through all of the material but it is presented in a way that encourages the learner to continue forward. The interviews are quite interesting and give a rarely seen inside look into marijuana cultivation and those convicted of growing the weed.
Concerns:: While one can understand the Internet material as presented, it appears to be the intent of PBS/Frontline that the presentation be watched prior to using the Internet material. One of the web pages focuses on how one can purchase the Frontline presentation or request a copy of the transcript of the presentation. You are left wondering what happened to someone like Will Foster who was sentenced to 93 years for cultivation. That was over fourteen years ago.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The material is very easy to use, and the interviews are outstanding.
Concerns:: Some material may appear out of context if the Frontline presentation has not been watched or a transcript of the presentation reviewed.

Other Issues and Comments:: It is important for some to understand the Internet material one should (must) watch the Frontline presentation or read a copy of the presentations transcript. The Frontline presentation originally aired on April 28, 1998 and there is no indication that the Internet material has been updated in the past 13 years.
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