States that legalize weed should free prisoners doing time for weed possession

Nov 9, 2018 1:28 AM

JarJarDrinks

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118913

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"A million"? You're swinging way below the actual number, friend.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

As long as they weren't in possession of an illegal weapon and/or committing a violent crime at the time of their arrest, sure.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I think fl just tried to pass something like this. It not sure if it passed

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Come on South Carolina, the alcohol is killing me. Get on board with the anti prohibition laws

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yes they should. And then the prison system should be switched from a for profit to a non-profit exclusively aimed at rehabilitation.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Legalizing it will make it more available to public and medical industries will not be able to sell their expensive medications... wait

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Now lets hope Psychedelics will follow in the Devil's Lettuce's foot steps.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

By admittance to the hospital, safest drug is actually magic mushrooms. Possibly because of the # of weed smokers compared to shroom users.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

I've been around stoners and drunks. 10 to 1, would rather be around stoners than drunk douches.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Friend always says "you drink and fight, you puff and make up".

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

To my knowledge, they already do unless it wasn't the only charge. Ie, only weed = free, weed + crack = no reduction of jail time.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

*people

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Black drug dealers matter though.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Most of the states who do legalize it are removing those charges. but those states are not deferring other charges associated to that arrst

7 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 1

And a million mexicans. Lol cmon

7 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

What

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 3

It’s for cheap state run prison labor. And because of racist geriatric judges and boomer voters who voted for minimum sentencing

7 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 4

And now that privatized prisons are a thing you’ll see a lot of representatives fighting hard for the prison system that promotes recidivism

7 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 3

The prison industrial complex. Democrats or Republicans, it doesn’t matter. What matters is who’s paying them to change their morale compass

7 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 3

That would mean that the for-profit prisons will have less slaves. And that just wont do, no sir bob.

7 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

With Sessions gone it might just. He personally owns multiple for-profit prisons and worked hard to keep his slaves.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

"Safest recreational drug" =/= safe.

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 3

JUST SAY PEOPLE INSTEAD OF 'BLACK PEOPLE' christ....

7 years ago | Likes 34 Dislikes 11

Since the marijuana laws were directly targeted at black and brown people, pointing out the race is relevant and important here.

7 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

There are a disproportionately high amount of black people in jail for that particular crime. But you're right, it sucks for everyone.

7 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 3

No. Even though white people actually use marijuana more than black people, black Americans are over four times as likely to be arrested (1)

7 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

for possession. There's blatant racial issues in drug law enforcement. See: https://www.aclu.org/gallery/marijuana-arrests-numbers (2)

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Being safe doesn't mean it wasn't illegal. Criminals.

7 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 4

Ye but it's kinda rediculous it's illegal while alcohol and tobacco are legal. We shouldnt just obey laughable laws either tbh.

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 2

Millennials are killing the prison profiteering industry.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Literally what Sessions thinks probably. Dude gon lose a lot of his slavelabor.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Well he got fired so that's something

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yep

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Canada is releasing all jailed people and all records will be erased for those convicted of cannabis possession.

7 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Oh, Canada...

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Canada calls it "Pot Pardon"

7 years ago | Likes 29 Dislikes 1

Should expunge records, clear them completely.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Now that Michigan voted to legalize recreational cannabis, the new governor (Whitmer) has said she will use her clemency powers to release

7 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 1

folks convicted for minor pot charges - basically, if the conduct is going to be legal now, she's granting clemency.

7 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

can't wait for the class action suit for people wanting their fines refunded, and retribution pay for time served.

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

In cases like that, individual suits are tossed out and class status is not granted. This is not any kind of new legal territory.

7 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

If they were lawfully convicted of crimes they actually did, they're out of luck. Just because it's legal now doesn't change that. Clemency

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

will, however, expunge their records so they won't have convictions showing up in background checks.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Washington state?

7 years ago | Likes 36 Dislikes 0

It annoys me that Washington D.C. isn't in Washington

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Just think of it as the city Washington in the District of Columbia. Many states have a Washington city.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Seattle just reversed convictions for weed, about 500 of them. https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/25/health/seattle-vacates-weed-charges-trnd/index

7 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

That is a great start.

7 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

This is tricky... But I believe if a society changes course, individuals in jail for said crime should be set free. Sorta like witchcraft.

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Except wichtcraft isn't real, false equivalency.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

Well it's come to light that dangers of marijuana, much like witchcraft, do not exist. So pretty correct. :D

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

the rep that introduced rec legalization in PA had that in his proposal i believe

7 years ago | Likes 729 Dislikes 1

If they do that they will just start a Cash for Grandparents scheme...

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

State's gonna pay a lot of prison fees though. That's why they fill them. - Adam Ruins Prison

7 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 1

Got to employ those veterans some how

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 2

If a black man from the hood in Chicago who was president of the USA don’t make it legal. A kracker from an up scale neighbourhood ain’t

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 11

O not exactly "from the hood" in Chicago. I like where ya went with this, though, so it's funny!

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

From what i can tell he did not set foot in chicago until he was around 24 yrs old and did not settle down there officially until he was 30.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Medical is now legal in IL

7 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I think this is the plan for Whitmer (Michigan governor elect). There was a story today about county prosecutors dropping weed charges.

7 years ago | Likes 285 Dislikes 1

But think about all the trivial conviction money we would lose! Won't someone think about the rich prison corporations?!?!

7 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 2

Unfortunately, Marijuana is illegal on the Federal level, and many people in jail would need Presidential Pardons to get out.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 7

Only if the person has been convicted of a federal crime. If it was a state charge the governor has the authority.

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I had heard that. I certainly hope she goes through with it.

7 years ago | Likes 33 Dislikes 0

San Francisco is dropping charges all the way back to the 70s.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Elections have co sequences

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

This is a good consequence, though.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Duh

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

What’s it part of the proposed ballot?

7 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I believe so. That was a big reason my family voted for it.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It wasn't, there is no part on the ballot for reversing convictions, but as stated above, our governer-elect is planning on doing that

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

All non-violent weed offenders need to have their judgments reversed.

7 years ago | Likes 582 Dislikes 23

Now that Jeff Sessions is gone it's somewhat realistic to start that discussion (:

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 7

And past judgements expunged.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Just because they were arrested for something that is now legal doesn't change the fact that they broke the law.

7 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 5

And if the law changes back to illegal again in the future they would have their judgments reversed back to the original?

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

That’s fine and all, but you aren’t talking about a whole lot of people in prison.

7 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 17

Stoners really like this myth that prisons are full of recreational users. It's not true and never has been.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Define "not a whole lot" because there are waaaay too many

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Maybe 2,000 for all marijuana charges, from possession to trafficking in massive volumes.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Whenever I smoke weed, my judgments are questionable, but it's not that bad.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

Almost all nonviolent offenders dont belong in prison anyways.

7 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 12

There’s lots of conmen and swindlers that really deserve to be behinds bars

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Bernie Madoff is a non- violent offender. You cool with letting him get back to business?

7 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 3

Not being in prison and letting him go back to defrauding people are two entirely separate things.

7 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 5

If you know of a way to keep someone as sophisticated as him from defrauding people outside of prison, I’d be interested to hear it.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Pay a guy to follow him around all day with a sign that says "this guy is a conman". Probably costs less than a jail cell.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It’s still federally illegal, anyone imprisoned by a federal LEA would need the supreme to overturn their verdict

7 years ago | Likes 62 Dislikes 3

Or a Presidential Pardon.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

well we did just get rid of that gerbil jeff sessions so...

7 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

And Pete! He was blocking a lot of bills in committee.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Yeah michigan has trafficking issues still going on, but the bigger problem right now is the I-94 meth pipeline. I'm hoping some of the ~

7 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

tax revenue will go towards the opioid and meth crisis around here.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Meth pipeline? As in like, liquid meth, or am I missing some term or slang here?

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Basically Interstate 94 runs from Detroit to Chicago and it's become a major trafficking route for meth...

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Ah, okay. Was really concerned that someone had somehow developed liquid meth. Imagine that shit

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I got a speeding ticket for 65 in a 55 once. Should I be reimbursed plus interest now that the speed limit is 70? Not gonna happen.

7 years ago | Likes 65 Dislikes 63

Exactly.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 7

Driving higher than the speed limit is Illegal because it endangers other people.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Should you vs will you. You should. And we should get charged less when we ask for fewer toppings on burgers.

7 years ago | Likes 31 Dislikes 15

Nah, he shouldnt.

7 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

Did you fucking go to jail? I don't think so.

7 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Dont cut yourself on all that edge.

7 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

No, because you speed could have killed other people. Weed doesn't harm others, if it was harmful

7 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 7

What a specious comparison. Speeding tickets aren't criminal convictions, they're moving traffic violations. They don't show up on criminal

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

2/ background checks that can severely hamper employment and housing opportunities. And you don't spend months/years in jail for them.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

As a person who has interacted with black market weed sellers I can honestly say those guys sell alot more shit than weed 1/2

7 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 2

Almost all illegal marijuana sellers have xanax, ecstacy, little bit of cocaine and a shit ton of acid and shrooms 2/2

7 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

In need of acid or shrooms for sure

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Can keep the weed

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Sure, but not all of them and not all buyers go for the heavier stuff. Iirc, those with only weed charges get out, those with multiple stay

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

the same (ie, no reduction of jail time)

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

People don't seem to understand that if they've knowingly broken the law that they are likely to do so again or broken others like you said.

7 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

ever exceeded the speed limit?

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

Yup, and even though I had gotten a ticket a while back, I still occasionally might speed. Proves his point.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

If states didn't have a required minimum capacity for jails they might do that. End the prison-for-profit system.

7 years ago | Likes 307 Dislikes 13

The hell is minimum capacity? We're over capacity because they won't commit funds to a new facility and the county is growing.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I get your point, but a very minuscule percent of prisoners are actually in “for profit” prisons...

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 9

Public prisons also run the same types of labor programs, providing near 0 cost labor.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The problem with ending for profit prisons is that the few already rich ppl that run them wont be as rich as they want to be...merica

7 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 2

Well hey, like that louisiana sheriff said, if you let all the good ones out, who's gonna wash his car?

7 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

End the anything-government-for-profit system

7 years ago | Likes 54 Dislikes 7

No, v that would be government officials for profit. Government demonstrably does not profit.

7 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Something something communism.

7 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

Why the hell do you have a minimum capacity? Everywhere else we're trying to reduce the amount of people in jail!

7 years ago | Likes 34 Dislikes 0

Because our corporate overlords need the slaves to make profits and keep their “made in the usa” stickers

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

only way to have legal slaves?

7 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

7 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

The US uses inmates as labour, they are exempt from wage laws, so they can pay them a few $/day and it's completely legal...

7 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

There aren’t a whole lot of people in private prisons for marijuana related charges.

7 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 36

So what are the numbers then?

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The for-profit-prisons are fucked dude. Rationally it makes sense but ethically and morally its disgusting

7 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

I agree they aren’t good for society, but they aren’t housing incredible numbers of people in for marijuana offenses.

7 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Dude's getting downvoted for the truth, and he even brought sources. Imgur, you are in rare form tonight.

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Where the sources at?

7 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

A few comments above this one.

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

There's a fair amount man. Other safe recreational drugs too.

7 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 2

The number for marijuana is somewhere around 2,000 as a high estimate for everything from possession to distribution related to marijuana.

7 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 3

That's the prison vs jail distinction, I would actually be curious how much of the labor/profit issues are shared between the 2

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That's still ~2k inmates to replace, who are they going to arrest? Politicians? HA! Ha! ha.. Aw, Now I'm sad.

7 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I'm asking both of you to provide sources for this

7 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

And then private prisons house 8% of prisoners, so with numbers from all of those you can calculate it.

7 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0