California Cops Turn Focus to Making Marijuana Arrests

[Weedpipe]

A frequent claim made by opponents of marijuana policy reform is that hardly anybody is ever really arrested for low-level marijuana offenses. But like most prohibitionist arguments, that's a lie.

In California, where marijuana possession was "decriminalized" in 1976 and medical marijuana legalized 20 years later, the state Department of Justice reports that law enforcement conducted a record 78,492 marijuana arrests in 2008. About 80% of these (61,366) were for mere possession — not sale or cultivation.

The California-based Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ) took a long look at trends for marijuana arrests in the state and revealed some disturbing information. In its recent report to the California Legislature, CJCJ showed that the arrest rate for marijuana possession has skyrocketed in California — up 127% — between 1990 and 2008. But during the same period, arrests for all other offenses in California decreased by 40% — including other drug possession, which sank by nearly 30%. The arrest rate for marijuana sales and manufacturing even decreased 21% during this period.

You can't help but conclude from this data that California's police agencies have developed an almost singular focus on marijuana possession as their top law enforcement priority. This is shocking, not only because most Californians now say they want marijuana legal, but because it's a dangerous and irresponsible use of limited public safety resources.

Last year, while California's law enforcement officers were rounding up a record number of marijuana consumers, almost 60,000 reported violent crimes never resulted in an arrest.* Thanks to decriminalization in California, these arrests usually don't result in jail or lengthy detainment, but they do take real police time and other criminal justice resources.

Anyone unfortunate enough to have been a victim of an unsolved crime should support repealing marijuana prohibition and freeing up police to focus on public safety rather than consensual adult activity that's no more harmful than drinking beer or wine.



News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Opposing Views
Author: By Marijuana Policy Project
Contact: Opposing Views: Issues, Experts, Answers
Copyright: 2008 Opposing Views, Inc
Website:Opposing Views: OPINION:California Cops Turn Focus to Making Marijuana Arrests

 

[michaelkaer]

we are going to see a big backlash of drug busts and a big last gasp from the anti-pot people because we have taken the ridicule and we have refuted every lie they have come up with. It will be harsh but then society will see just how bad this is and end it finally I will live to see cannabis legal for anyone who wants it.

 

[stonedrock]

how much more sick can it get. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sicntired]

Perhaps they intend to use the statistics to try to make a case for increased marijuana use when it's just increased police pressure.You had to know that the police,who are almost always the number one opponent to legalization,would use every trick in the book to try to sabotage the loosening of the noose on marijuana use.Prohibition has to be a dream for job security if you work in law enforcement.

 

[stonedrock]

Perhaps they intend to use the statistics to try to make a case for increased marijuana use when it's just increased police pressure.You had to know that the police,who are almost always the number one opponent to legalization,would use every trick in the book to try to sabotage the loosening of the noose on marijuana use.Prohibition has to be a dream for job security if you work in law enforcement.

I don't think so it's the cops, it's the politicians who have there heads up there ass. Police have enough to do as it is and I have even asked some officers what they thought about weed and they favored legalization!

 

[michaelkaer]

L.E.A.P. is helping get the message out that some cops care about what they do and would rather have respect that is earned rather than the respect a beaten dog gives. They know pot is not the big bad bogeyman they once were taught.

 

[sicntired]

The police use arrest statistics to justify task forces and continued drug enforcement which garners them funds from the city,state and federal governments.Politicians may make the laws but there is plenty of money in enforcing them.Arrest statistics justify all of these funding requests.This is also why law enforcement and now the private prison industry lobby big time to have the drug laws remain as draconian as possible.It's a self perpetuating industry.