quote:Originally posted by Mr.Dittohead:
Everyone in jail is on welfare. The cost to keep a convicted drug user in jail for possession of a handful of pot for 5 years is $35,000/year, minimum. IF they get sick and need open heart surgery, the state has to pay that in full as the state does not purchase insurance for its inmates.
I'm familiar with some of the writings of the late 19th and early 20th century advocating welfare. Preventing crime wasn't one of them. Please elucidate on your sources.
As to long terms for pot possession, you used that as an example before. When challenged you couldn't present proof of many felony convictions for mere possession.
That said, I'm all for legalizing pot for adults, rather like alcohol. It would free up law enforcement and remove a major profit line of the narcotrafficantes.
I'm also for removing about 25 percent of the federal laws from the book. We've criminalized so many activities that federal judges are complaining.