The Most Ridiculous Jail Sentences For Weed Show Why We Need Marijuana Reform
Weed legalization is rapidly on its way to changing the landscape of this formerly anti-piff country, but for many, it is not better late than never.
For countless men and women who were charged with marijuana possession and intent to sell, they are still carrying out their 20 years to life sentences while murderers, rapists and those committing countless acts of fraud walk free due to lack of evidence or glitches in the system.
It seems like the system benefits those who rape and kill over those who sell a harmless plant, and there’s something very wrong with that.
According to lifeforpot.org, there is an overwhelming number of men and women serving life sentences without parole for their non-violent crimes of marijuana distribution. Each of the accused costs the tax payers $72,000 per year while another $40,000 per year will be spent to incarcerate non-violent marijuana offenders.
Meanwhile, according to DailyMail, over the past five years some 1,300 suspected criminals, including rapists, child molesters and murderers, escaped sentencing and prison time because of errors in arrest protocol.
In 2011 marijuana possession arrests totaled 663,032 — more than arrests for all violent crimes combined.
So, as legalization continues to get underway, let’s take a moment and remember those who didn’t make it to the glory days and are spending their days rotting in prison for a plant that’s less harmful than both alcohol and cigarettes, yet somehow deserves more prison time than murder and rape.
(Click to enlarge).
via CMC Defense, Photo Courtesy: Tumblr
