According to FBI figures released today, about 873,000 people were arrested on marijuana charges in the United States last year, 5 percent more than in 2006 and a new record. This is the fifth year in a row that marijuana arrests, which are up 167 percent since 1990, have increased. In 2007 marijuana arrests accounted for nearly half of the 1.8 million drug arrests; as usual, the vast majority of the pot busts, about 775,000, were for simple possession.

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/128793.html

http://www.norml.org/share/marijuana_arrests_chart500_short.gif

What a damn waste.

I feel safer.

Is it weird that I view this as slightly positive? If more people are getting caught smoking, then I'm assuming more people are smoking weed these days. The more people that smoke, the more likely weed will be legalized.

The government (police) need the money, saw you arrest some pot smokers and then auction off the car, or house, or boat etc. They get to keep the money.

you're right carbonbasedlife.
i wouldn't be surprised in my county alone about 60% of the people smoke pot or have used it in their lifetime and don't care if people smoke pot. eventually the government will have to give in and accept the fact, the drug war is a failure.

I just have to wonder how we can keep justifying the criminalization of marijuana usage? Anyone?

I just have to wonder how we can keep justifying the criminalization of marijuana usage? Anyone?

I cannot come up with anything that feels or sounds like a valid reason.

What sort of penalty is expected if caught in possession ?

What sort of penalty is expected if caught in possession ?
Usually a slap on the wrist for a first offense... A fine and some community service hours. (I should add that this usually doesn't apply if you're a young black male. :p)

Usually a slap on the wrist for a first offense... A fine and some community service hours. (I should add that this usually doesn't apply if you're a young black male. :p)

Yeah, they wouldnt do community service :D

Usually a slap on the wrist for a first offense... A fine and some community service hours. (I should add that this usually doesn't apply if you're a young black male. :p)
What happens to them?

What sort of penalty is expected if caught in possession ?
Probation, generally, for the first offense.

Probation, generally, for the first offense.

Pretty much the same as here then. Tho I know of people who have been refused entry to the US for a first offence, once drugs are mentioned, youve no chance of getting in.

I wonder if Americans find travelling difficulties with a first offence record ?

What happens to them?
It was a joke. :)

Probation, generally, for the first offense.
I don't know anyone who's gotten probation on their first offense... I know several people who've had to do community service though....

I don't know anyone who's gotten probation on their first offense
Not only is probation generally the first offense penalty in Illinois, it's even codified into law:

(720 ILCS 550/10) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 710)
Sec. 10. (a) Whenever any person who has not previously been convicted of, or placed on probation or court supervision for, any offense under this Act or any law of the United States or of any State relating to cannabis, or controlled substances as defined in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, pleads guilty to or is found guilty of violating Sections 4(a), 4(b), 4(c), 5(a), 5(b), 5(c) or 8 of this Act, the court may, without entering a judgment and with the consent of such person, sentence him to probation.
(b) When a person is placed on probation, the court shall enter an order specifying a period of probation of 24 months, and shall defer further proceedings in the case until the conclusion of the period or until the filing of a petition alleging violation of a term or condition of probation.
(c) The conditions of probation shall be that the person: (1) not violate any criminal statute of any jurisdiction; (2) refrain from possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon; (3) submit to periodic drug testing at a time and in a manner as ordered by the court, but no less than 3 times during the period of the probation, with the cost of the testing to be paid by the probationer; and (4) perform no less than 30 hours of community service, provided community service is available in the jurisdiction and is funded and approved by the county board.

Yeah, they wouldnt do community service :D
LOL!

The government (police) need the money, saw you arrest some pot smokers and then auction off the car, or house, or boat etc. They get to keep the money.
BINGO! It's a racket, pure and simple.

No different than the small town with a speed trap that pays for half the town budget.

Usually a slap on the wrist for a first offense... A fine and some community service hours. (I should add that this usually doesn't apply if you're a young black male. :p)

You are so brainwashed it's sad. I've seen an officer call a white kid a filthy white piece of trash and slam his head on the police cruiser for simply having a joint. I also know of officers that constantly give down and out blacks from the ghetto constant breaks for possession.

Your opinion is not fact. Don't pass it as so.

Your opinion is not fact. Don't pass it as so.Project much?

First of all, when someone prefaces a remark with the word "usually" it can hardly be said they are asserting a "fact". Second, the use of the smiley emoticon indicates she was making a joke (as you might have discovered for yourself if you had bothered to read the thread).

Now go back under your bridge again for another month or so.

You are so brainwashed it's sad. I've seen an officer call a white kid a filthy white piece of trash and slam his head on the police cruiser for simply having a joint.
Duh... A lot of cops treat all teenagers like that.

I also know of officers that constantly give down and out blacks from the ghetto constant breaks for possession.
So what? If you ask me, everyone should get breaks for possession.

Your opinion is not fact. Don't pass it as so.
First, it was a joke, not an opinion. Second, where the hell did I say it was "fact"?

Now go back under your bridge again for another month or so.

Gawd. Under the bridge is so 90s. Don't you know park benches are the new hotness? Gawd.

Gawd. Under the bridge is so 90s. Don't you know park benches are the new hotness? Gawd.Trolls live under park benches now?

Gawd.

Who knew?

Trolls live under park benches now?

Gawd.

Who knew?

This jerkoff loves to insult people who haven't even said one word to him or have insulted anyone else. So far you've insulted me in 2 posts e-warrior. Just like a liberal that has no common sense or political backbone, the jerk decides to toss "Troll" and "Get Under You Bridge" insults. lmao f'ing kindergartner

Nice try champ. You'll have better luck insulting your lover.

Don't play with me because you'll be crying under your bed covers by the end of the day.

This jerkoff loves to insult people who haven't even said one word to him or have insulted anyone else.
No, you didn't call anyone "brainwashed."

Don't play with me because you'll be crying under your bed covers by the end of the day.Yeah, sedan, don't mess with him or he'll post so many threads about blacks killing whites that you'll be checking behind the shower curtain every time you go to the bathroom.

Yeah, sedan, don't mess with him or he'll post so many threads about blacks killing whites that you'll be checking behind the shower curtain every time you go to the bathroom.

Who else would I expect posting in a topic about marijuana, hippies. Obama, marijuana, and love am I right?

LoL, intellectual inequality.

Who else would I expect posting in a topic about marijuana, hippies. Obama, marijuana, and love am I right?Absolutely right.

Jester is way into the hippie thing -- he even lives in a commune.

So thats why its called 'The Green Zone'.

Who else would I expect posting in a topic about marijuana, hippies. Obama, marijuana, and love am I right?

And tie-dye t-shirts, and lava lamps, and... dude, i am so high right now

LOL. Good one Paul.

Hey, I like weed and I'm definitely neither a hippie nor an Obama supporter...

(p.s. Some conservatives like drugs, too. We call them libertarians. :thumbs:)

Arent Conservatives who do drugs called 'hypocrites' :D

Arent Conservatives who do drugs called 'hypocrites' :D
Um, no. Not every person who calls himself conservative is one of these moral crusader, Jerry Falwell types.

Um, no. Not every person who calls himself conservative is one of these moral crusader, Jerry Falwell types.

There is hope in the World then.

New Incarceration Record

Jacob Sullum | December 12, 2008, 2:59pm

According to a Bureau of Justice Statistics report (http://www.csdp.org/research/p07.pdf) (PDF) released yesterday, 2.3 million Americans were behind bars in 2007, 1.5 percent more than in 2006 and a new record. The number includes about 780,000 people in local jails, 1.4 million in state prisons, and 200,000 in federal prison. Roughly one in five state prisoners and more than half of federal prisoners were serving time for drug offenses. Assuming the percentage of drug offenders in jails is similar to the percentage in state prisons, the total is more than half a million. "That is ten times the total in 1980," notes the Drug Policy Alliance, "and more than all of western Europe (with a much larger population) incarcerates for all offenses."

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/130543.html

Bush touts successes in fight against drugs
By Jordy Yager
Posted: 12/13/08 02:20 PM [ET]

President Bush on Saturday emphasized his administration’s role in curbing the nation’s drug usage during his time in the White House.

With less than six weeks left in office, Bush trumpeted his collaboration with faith-based groups and the Access to Recovery program as contributing to a significant drop in marijuana and methamphetamine usage.

“Through our Access to Recovery program, addicts receive vouchers they can redeem at treatment centers of their choice, including faith- based centers,” Bush said. “So far, this program has helped more than 260,000 addicts along the path toward clean lives.”

Bush’s weekly address drew on his meeting Thursday with recovering addict and Texas Rangers baseball star Josh Hamilton, in which he echoed his threefold plan of reducing the demand of drugs, prohibiting their supply, and assisting people addicted to drugs.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/bush-touts-successes-in-fight-against-drugs-2008-12-13.html

I wonder how much of the decline of usage is because the economy. If marijuana users can't afford to smoke, they will use less.

I wonder how much of the decline of usage is because the economy. If marijuana users can't afford to smoke, they will use less.
But the income elasticity of weed is pretty close to zero, i.e. inelastic. What lower incomes do is drive users to drop the quality they buy.

Well California gets over $100 million a year from taxing medical marijuana so why not allow it for any adult willing to buy it and then the money does not go to the black market?

The government (police) need the money, saw you arrest some pot smokers and then auction off the car, or house, or boat etc. They get to keep the money.

Not to mention all the federal funding for the "war on drugs". The federal agencies don't want to end it, even though they know it is a complete failure because they don't want to lose that money.

I wonder how much of the decline of usage is because the economy. If marijuana users can't afford to smoke, they will use less.
From what I have read, in an economic downturn drug and alcohol usage usually goes up.

From what I have read, in an economic downturn drug and alcohol usage usually goes up.
And I wouldn't be surprised if that is partially due to habitual mids smokers dropping down to ditch weed, and adjusting their usage up some to compensate for the lower potency. As I said, weed (and, indeed, all drugs) are quite inelastic goods.

And I wouldn't be surprised if that is partially due to habitual mids smokers dropping down to ditch weed, and adjusting their usage up some to compensate for the lower potency. As I said, weed (and, indeed, all drugs) are quite inelastic goods.
You're probably right. When I don't have much money I go down from heddies to KB, and if I really don't have much money I'll go for mids. The good thing about mids is I can roll blunts without feeling wasteful.

EDIT: Oh and I don't think I could find shitty weed from any of my contacts if I tried, so if I couldn't afford mids I'd be pretty screwed...

You're probably right. When I don't have much money I go down from heddies to KB, and if I really don't have much money I'll go for mids. The good thing about mids is I can roll blunts without feeling wasteful.

EDIT: Oh and I don't think I could find shitty weed from any of my contacts if I tried, so if I couldn't afford mids I'd be pretty screwed...

Wish I could read American :(

How do you think we feel over there? I mean, you people spawned the fucking language - the least you can do is speak it. :D

Many many moons ago Irish people were hanged for speaking their native lingo, so I guess after a few
very very quite years, we learnt.

Problem is, we havent fucked up since.