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In 2012, Washington and Colorado voted to decriminalize marijuana. Assuming the goal for all prisons and jails is to lower recidivism rates (the rate at which a prisoner reoffends), other states should follow suit. The numerous social and financial reasons for decriminalizing marijuana nationwide are outlined below.
- Decriminalization targets violent drug offenders instead of low level users.
Of incarcerated marijuana users, 87 percent are convicted of possession alone. This means the majority of those serving time in our prisons are people who have committed a non-violent crime. We are not incarcerating the drug kingpins or dealers that politicians may have you think. Many are young people who could go on to be productive members of society, but can't because they have a record. Getting these kids out of the criminal justice system's reach allows for greater focus on the big dealers and cartel groups.
- It reduces overcrowding which can lower recidivism rates in violent offenders.
Our nation's prisons and jails are ridiculously overcrowded. Prisoners (mostly low level users) are forced to double, triple, and quadruple bunk. They live in unsanitary and inhumane conditions. Obviously this has a negative effect on prisoners and can lead to higher rates of prison violence. Young drug users who previously were non-violent often leave prison with violent tendencies. The psychological stress of overcrowding can linger in released inmates and deter them from living a fully rehabilitated life.
- It saves money and encourages the use of more effective rehabilitation programs.
Incarcerating an inmate for a year costs $30,000-$50,000 depending on the state. In New Jersey that number is around $46,000. That's a lot of money wasted when you think about it – the recidivism rate for released inmates is around 70 percent while the recidivism rate for users who have completed drug rehab is about 40 percent. Decriminalizing marijuana nationwide would further reduce justice spending and increase the use of more effective drug rehabilitation. This would also allot more money to go to higher need programs such as sex offender rehabilitation and victim services.
- It works to combat racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
This is the big one, the most important reason for decriminalization. Although the "War on Drugs" was supposed to target drug users and distributers, it has really targeted poor minorities. Hispanics and African Americans use drugs at the same rate as whites. Although they make up less than 30 percent of the general population, they make up nearly 67 percent of the prison population for drug offenses. Decriminalization is the first step in getting rid of antiquated, racist laws and practices that have been decimating African American and Hispanic populations since their inception.
Drug laws in the US are ineffective and costly. Changes to legislation regarding possession penalties are needed nationwide or prisons will continue to be cycles of disease, violence, racism, and wasted opportunity.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: mycentraljersey.com
Author: mycentraljersey.com
- Decriminalization targets violent drug offenders instead of low level users.
Of incarcerated marijuana users, 87 percent are convicted of possession alone. This means the majority of those serving time in our prisons are people who have committed a non-violent crime. We are not incarcerating the drug kingpins or dealers that politicians may have you think. Many are young people who could go on to be productive members of society, but can't because they have a record. Getting these kids out of the criminal justice system's reach allows for greater focus on the big dealers and cartel groups.
- It reduces overcrowding which can lower recidivism rates in violent offenders.
Our nation's prisons and jails are ridiculously overcrowded. Prisoners (mostly low level users) are forced to double, triple, and quadruple bunk. They live in unsanitary and inhumane conditions. Obviously this has a negative effect on prisoners and can lead to higher rates of prison violence. Young drug users who previously were non-violent often leave prison with violent tendencies. The psychological stress of overcrowding can linger in released inmates and deter them from living a fully rehabilitated life.
- It saves money and encourages the use of more effective rehabilitation programs.
Incarcerating an inmate for a year costs $30,000-$50,000 depending on the state. In New Jersey that number is around $46,000. That's a lot of money wasted when you think about it – the recidivism rate for released inmates is around 70 percent while the recidivism rate for users who have completed drug rehab is about 40 percent. Decriminalizing marijuana nationwide would further reduce justice spending and increase the use of more effective drug rehabilitation. This would also allot more money to go to higher need programs such as sex offender rehabilitation and victim services.
- It works to combat racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
This is the big one, the most important reason for decriminalization. Although the "War on Drugs" was supposed to target drug users and distributers, it has really targeted poor minorities. Hispanics and African Americans use drugs at the same rate as whites. Although they make up less than 30 percent of the general population, they make up nearly 67 percent of the prison population for drug offenses. Decriminalization is the first step in getting rid of antiquated, racist laws and practices that have been decimating African American and Hispanic populations since their inception.
Drug laws in the US are ineffective and costly. Changes to legislation regarding possession penalties are needed nationwide or prisons will continue to be cycles of disease, violence, racism, and wasted opportunity.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: mycentraljersey.com
Author: mycentraljersey.com
