[richlevy]

I think that this is a good reason for decriminalization. If we look at alcohol prohibition, it was doomed to failure because a broad segment of the population ignored it, including at least one sitting president. I do not believe that the laws against alcohol were anywhere near as damaging as those against marijauna. which can affect the entire future of a young adult. Add to that drug testing, which can stigmatize individuals, sometimes by error. I really believe that if drug laws were blindly enforced, with no regard for race, social position, wealth, decriminalization would have occurred long ago.

So we now have a dual system where middle and upper class white kids are treated differently, including having the ability to experiment on college campuses relatively free from police oversight.

I'm still amazed at the number of conservatives who bitch about $5000 per year worth of welfare or other social benefits but are ok with $20000 to $30000 in per capita prison costs.