Robert MacCoun

Robert MacCoun is the James and Patricia Kowal Professor at Stanford Law School and Senior Associate Vice Provost for Research. He holds dual appointments as Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Professor (by courtesy) of Psychology, reflecting his interdisciplinary expertise across law, psychology, and policy analysis.

MacCoun's research focuses on drug policy (particularly cannabis regulation), law and psychology, empirical legal studies, and social influence. His work examines how psychological principles inform legal processes, policy formation, and evidence-based decision making. He has made significant contributions to understanding the transition from medical to recreational marijuana legalization in the United States, procedural justice in policing, and methods for enhancing research credibility. His influential 2017 article identified five pathways through which medical marijuana laws paved the way for broader legalization efforts.

His scholarly work demonstrates consistent engagement with critical issues at the intersection of science, law, and public policy. MacCoun's research on cannabis policy has been particularly influential in shaping contemporary debates about drug regulation and the implementation of legalization frameworks. His recent work on research methodology, particularly blinded data analysis, addresses critical challenges in scientific reproducibility and has earned recognition including the 2024 Open Science Champion Prize.

• Open Science Champion Prize, Center for Open and Reproducible Science (2024)
• James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award for lifetime contributions to the application of psychology, Association for Psychological Science (2019)
• Editor, Annual review of Law & Social Science (2018-2022)

MacCoun teaches courses including 'Carrots, Sticks, Norms, and Nudges: Changing Minds and Behaviors,' 'Elements of Policy Analysis,' and 'Law and Psychology.' His approach integrates empirical research with practical policy applications, providing students with tools to analyze and improve decision-making processes in legal and policy contexts. His work with the Center for Open and Reproducible Science reflects his commitment to methodological rigor and transparency in social science research.