3 ms·

There's no real solution other than build new prisons, hire new people and transfer prisoners. There's a lot more solutions than that. Decriminalizing drug us

by ansible 11y ago

There's no real solution other than build new prisons, hire new people and transfer prisoners. There's a lot more solutions than that. Decriminalizing drug use, and treating it like a public health issue (which it is) would drastically reduce incarceration rates. It would save the nation a lot of money too. Just tax and regulate it. Spending time and money to help people not re-offend (and go back to jail) would also be cost-effective. Unfortunately, there are big interests that want to keep the status quo.

leesalminen 11y ago
After legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, Colorado has seen a 50% increase in Marijuana related DUI arrests [0]. The state/counties already tax the hell out of the plant (roughly 23% in my county). The state always finds ways to make money off their citizenry. This created a market for a less expensive product that's also conveniently illegal. The dispensaries can't open bank accounts and are forced to maintain multi-million dollar cash stockpiles. They are so afraid of being robbed, they hire ex-military to travel around town with them armed with semi-automatic rifles [1]. Isn't this asking for more violent crime? [0] http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/06/26/colorado-dui-recreational-marijuana/11391053/ http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/06/26/col... [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/business/marijuana-industry-in-colorado-eager-for-its-own-bank-waits-on-the-fed.html http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/business/marijuana-industr...
- ansible 11y ago
  The dispensaries can't open bank accounts and are forced to maintain multi-million dollar cash stockpiles. They are so afraid of being robbed, they hire ex-military to travel around town with them armed with semi-automatic rifles [1]. Isn't this asking for more violent crime? Well, if Marijuana was legal at the federal level too, then maybe the dispensaries could do business like everybody else. I don't see that as a valid argument to stop decriminalization. I didn't say drug use wasn't a problem, just that it should be treated like a public health issue, instead of a criminal justice one.

by ansible 11y ago

leesalminen 11y ago

After legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, Colorado has seen a 50% increase in Marijuana related DUI arrests [0]. The state/counties already tax the hell out of the plant (roughly 23% in my county). The state always finds ways to make money off their citizenry. This created a market for a less expensive product that's also conveniently illegal. The dispensaries can't open bank accounts and are forced to maintain multi-million dollar cash stockpiles. They are so afraid of being robbed, they hire ex-military to travel around town with them armed with semi-automatic rifles [1]. Isn't this asking for more violent crime? [0] http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/06/26/colorado-dui-recreational-marijuana/11391053/ http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/06/26/col... [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/business/marijuana-industry-in-colorado-eager-for-its-own-bank-waits-on-the-fed.html http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/business/marijuana-industr...

ansible 11y ago
The dispensaries can't open bank accounts and are forced to maintain multi-million dollar cash stockpiles. They are so afraid of being robbed, they hire ex-military to travel around town with them armed with semi-automatic rifles [1]. Isn't this asking for more violent crime? Well, if Marijuana was legal at the federal level too, then maybe the dispensaries could do business like everybody else. I don't see that as a valid argument to stop decriminalization. I didn't say drug use wasn't a problem, just that it should be treated like a public health issue, instead of a criminal justice one.