An investigation published last month by the Huffington Post found that over 100,000 more people were arrested in 2011 for possession of marijuana (the most harmless of drugs) than violent crimes. That means we’re spending more resources locking up and disenfranchising individuals for a victimless crime, resources that could be better spent solving murders and apprehending rapists. Talk about skewed priorities.
Taxpayers have shouldered the cost of arresting and incarcerating hundreds of thousands of people for the possession of marijuana, often in small quantities for personal use. Some national estimates put the annual cost of marijuana arrests above $10 billion, and low-level arrests for marijuana possession cost New York City alone $75 million in 2010.
In the era of budget cuts to desperately needed social programs, it’s remarkable that we continue to spend so much money punishing recreational marijuana users. And keep in mind that these costs don’t take into account the income one loses while behind bars and the years after being freed since a felony conviction makes one unemployable. This also hurts families whose breadwinners turned felons are subsequently unable to provide for them. That translates into more single parents struggling to make ends meet and more kids growing up without the resources necessary to lead successful and prosperous lives.
And it’s not as though the criminal justice system applies the law evenly. As Cord Jefferson points out:
Despite the fact that whites smoke marijuana more often than Blacks and Latinos, when it comes to arrests for the drug, Blacks and Latinos are nabbed far more frequently than their white counterparts. In New York City, for instance, which leads the nation in pot busts, nearly 90 percentof the almost 500,000 people who have been charged with misdemeanor pot possession in New York have been Black or Latino. Elsewhere, the arrest rates for pot are racially biased in the same way. In California, for instance, every single county in the state arrests Blacks for marijuana possession more often than whites. In LA it’s seven times the rate of whites, while in Torrance it’s nearly 14 times the rate.
It’s racist, it’s wasteful and it’s destroying countless lives. It’s way past time to decriminalize, legalize and regulate marijuana (and other drugs) so police can focus their efforts on, I dunno, solving murders? It’s just a thought.
Reblogged this on IndependentLeft and commented:
Keep on prosecuting the crimes that matter most, America. *sarcasm*
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…the house was being ransacked, the cattle were being rustled, and Granma was being raped by the cowboys….
Law enforcement needs to re-direct its focus on crime…to those that are REAL crimes.
I was in Federal Prison for 5 years for a marijuana offense. No, it was not for simple possession. I was arrested aboard a Lockheed PV2 in Marianna, Florida…charged and convicted for conspiracy to import and distribute 12,000 pounds of marijuana.
As those 5 years rolled by, what I did see were armed bank robbers, coming and going…while I still sat there for marijuana. Most of the bank robbers only spent 17 to 24 months. But, I and my fellow ‘drug offenders,’…we stayed for YEARS.
I wrote about the escapades that led to my incarceration.
I admit, I had a great time.
No one was injured, no one was killed, firearms were not involved…there were no victims.
We were Americans…doing what Americans do best…living free.
The book: Shoulda Robbed a Bank
I think you may enjoy it…
Thanks for the tip David. I’ll definitely check it out.
All card-carrying members of the DEA need to read: Shoulda Robbed a Bank
Here is one of its reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars… If David Sedaris had written ‘Catcher in the Rye’..this would be it, June 30, 2012
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Shoulda Robbed a Bank (Kindle Edition)
I have never smoked pot in my life…nor do I ever care to.
I read about this book in numerous Huffington Post comments. Thought I would read it because I know nothing about marijuana or the people involved with it. I am ecstatic that I did. Funny, Funny, Funny!!!
The chapters are like short stories. Stories about unloading boats with helicopters, close encounters with law enforcement, traveling through the jungles of South America. The chapter about the author’s first time smoking marijuana made me feel like I was with him…coughing.
All of the characters were just a group of loveable, nice guys and girls. Not what I had been raised to believe…hysterical maniacs high on pot bent on death and mayhem. They were nothing like that.
If you have ever read any of David Sedaris’ books, and like them…you will love Shoulda Robbed a Bank.
And the crazy things happening reminded me of Holden Caufield in ‘Catcher in the Rye’ and the way he staggered through life.
The way the words are put together are like nothing I have ever heard. I am sure I will use many of the sayings found in this book just to dazzle my friends. A terrific read. I love this book.
Gotta keep the stock price of the Corrections Corporation of America up. The system is sick.
Today, while My spouse and i was at the office, my nephew stole our iPad along with tested to view if it can survive the 40 foot drop, just so she could be a youtube experience. My iPad is now broken and she’s 83 landscapes. I know this is entirely off topic but I’d to discuss it along with someone!