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Article 1: Kincaid, J. (2017). Introduction: The Trump Interlude and the States of American Federalism. State and Local Government Review, 49(3), 156-169.

Abstract: American federalism is a highly institutionalized compound of dual, cooperative, and coercive federalism that are coexisting states as well as historical phases. Contemporary coercive federalism has several systemic consequences including a shift in federal policy-making from places to persons, long-term fiscal stress, deceased intergovernmental institutions, rising polarization, a relegitimizing of states’ rights, and a paradoxical decline of public trust in the federal government coupled with public dedication to federal policy-making. Trump’s presidency, therefore, will likely be more of an interlude than a transformative moment in American federalism. Long-term trends highlighted in this issue will likely outlast Trump, although the trends point toward more centralization and polarization even while states and localities remain independently innovative on many fronts.

Article 2: Ward, K. C., Thompson, A. J., Iannacchione, B. M., & Evans, M. K. (2017). Crime, Laws, and Legalization: Perceptions of Colorado Marijuana Dispensary Owners and Managers. Criminal Justice Policy Review.

Abstract: The legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado has complicated the relationships between local, state, and federal governments. Such challenges have trickled down to proprietors, managers, and employees within the new billion-dollar industry. Dispensary owners and managers often must navigate the implementation of new laws and policies in how they operate their business. The current study surveyed marijuana dispensaries across Colorado to explore owners’ and managers’ perceptions of operating their business while considering federal banking laws and concerns with state laws conflicting with federal laws, particularly in context of the 2016 presidential election.