Money-Saving Suggestion for States.

[MineralMan]

States are in deep financial crisis. Here's a way they could save billions:

End prison terms and prosecutions for all victimless crimes. End all penalties for possession of drugs and release all those currently in prison for such offenses. Legalize growing marijuana for personal possession or for non-sales distribution. Make pharmaceutical quality cocaine and heroin available to addicts while providing options for kicking those habits.

End prison terms and prosecutions for sex workers, as well, but keep pimping laws in place. Divert current vice officers to programs designed to move prostitutes off the streets and into privately-run programs.

[codjh9]

1. Good idea - fits in with a post I just made a while ago about how much money we're

spending, not only to imprison people who shouldn't be there, but for PROFIT for some f-ing 'corrections corporation'... insanity!

[MineralMan]

3. It's not a new idea, but these are new times...

Additional benefits would include a reduction in crimes related to the need for addictive drugs. If the drugs were available from legal sources, it should also decrease gang activity, which is most often funded by drug sales.

I see this as a no-brainer. If only the knee-jerk social conservative folks didn't hate the idea so much, it might be possible.

[DCKit]

2. Guess we know what you do in your spare time : ) n/t

[MineralMan]

5. No, not really...

I used to smoke dope, but that was back in the late 60s and early 70s. I stopped being one of those dope-smoking hippies long, long ago...now I'm an old fart, sipping my Bushmill's of an evening.

[PVnRT]

4. I agree, but it's political suicide in many places

Gov. Breshear here in Kentucky is going to have to go to war just to get the cigarette tax to $1/pack to reduce cuts to education.