4 ms·

Most people in the prison system are there for non-violent offenses. [1] In Chicago, blacks were arrested (before decriminalisation last year) for cannabis cons

Most people in the prison system are there for non-violent offenses. [1] In Chicago, blacks were arrested (before decriminalisation last year) for cannabis consumption at a rate of 15 persons for every 1 white person despite similar rates of cannabis consumption among blacks and whites. [2] People who have gone to prison for any of offense have a 40% chance of eventually going back to prison. [3] I would suggest that the change in incarceration rates starts with less racist policing. [1] http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=1118 http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=1118 [2] http://m.chicagoreader.com/chicago/chicago-marijuana-arrest-statistics/Content?oid=4198958 http://m.chicagoreader.com/chicago/chicago-marijuana-arrest-... [3] http://reason.com/archives/2011/06/08/prison-math http://reason.com/archives/2011/06/08/prison-math

DanBC 13y ago
I don't take drugs. I think there are good reasons for people to not take cannabis. I am strongly in favour of cannabis legalisation. The amount of time and money spent dealing with cannabis is mind-boggling. About 50,000[1] Mexicans have been murdered in the recent drug wars. Some of those are because cannabis is illegal. Cannabis prohibition is going to be viewed with horror in the future. (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2084224,00.html http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2084224,00.htm...) (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/opinion/hit-mexicos-cartels-with-legalization.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/opinion/hit-mexicos-cartel...) (http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-war-statistics http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-war-statistics) (http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/05/05/fbi-marijuana-is-the-top-revenue-generator-for-mexican-cartels/ http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/05/05/fbi-marijuana-is...) [1] numbers are hard to check, but some people say 62,000 since 2006.

DanBC 13y ago

I don't take drugs. I think there are good reasons for people to not take cannabis. I am strongly in favour of cannabis legalisation. The amount of time and money spent dealing with cannabis is mind-boggling. About 50,000[1] Mexicans have been murdered in the recent drug wars. Some of those are because cannabis is illegal. Cannabis prohibition is going to be viewed with horror in the future. (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2084224,00.html http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2084224,00.htm...) (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/opinion/hit-mexicos-cartels-with-legalization.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/opinion/hit-mexicos-cartel...) (http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-war-statistics http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-war-statistics) (http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/05/05/fbi-marijuana-is-the-top-revenue-generator-for-mexican-cartels/ http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/05/05/fbi-marijuana-is...) [1] numbers are hard to check, but some people say 62,000 since 2006.