Understanding Civil Society Through Legalize Marijuana Organizations
Understanding Civil Society through "Legalize Marijuana" Organizations
Collective action groups have garnered considerable interest by social researchers due to the groups' reflection of processes in civil society and unique use of those processes. Researchers have found that a group's framing processes, resource mobilization and political opportunities processes are essential dynamics of the group. Through complex, ideally adaptable and sometimes overlapping processes, these groups are born, flourish, and sometimes necessarily survive internal and external challenges by framing and reframing themselves, mobilizing resources for their survival and their work, and benefitting/suffering from political processes. NORML, the national association devoted to the legalization of marijuana, has successfully followed the necessary steps for effective collective action groups and has consequently adapted, expanded and survived difficulties to achieve some goals and redefine others. As a result of NORML's successful group processes, it is currently a nationally powerful and effective force.