VA Sen Jim Webb Definitely Gets It

With so many of our citizens in prison compared with the rest of the world, there are only two possibilities: Either we are home to the most evil people on earth or we are doing something different–and vastly counterproductive. Obviously, the answer is the latter.

Drug offenders, most of them passive users or minor dealers, are swamping our prisons. According to data supplied to Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, those imprisoned for drug offenses rose from 10% of the inmate population to approximately 33% between 1984 and 2002. Experts estimate that this increase accounts for about half of the dramatic escalation in the total number imprisoned over that period. Yet locking up more of these offenders has done nothing to break up the power of the multibillion-dollar illegal drug trade. Nor has it brought about a reduction in the amounts of the more dangerous drugs–such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines–that are reaching our citizens.

Justice statistics also show that 47.5% of all the drug arrests in our country in 2007 were for marijuana offenses. Additionally, nearly 60% of the people in state prisons serving time for a drug offense had no history of violence or of any significant selling activity. Indeed, four out of five drug arrests were for possession of illegal substances, while only one out of five was for sales. Three-quarters of the drug offenders in our state prisons were there for nonviolent or purely drug offenses. And although experts have found little statistical difference among racial groups regarding actual drug use, African-Americans–who make up about 12% of the total U.S. population–accounted for 37% of those arrested on drug charges, 59% of those convicted, and 74% of all drug offenders sentenced to prison.

via -  Parade Magazine “Why We Must Fix Our Prisons“

I urge you to hit the link to check out the rest of this great article from a Senator from my state of Virginia that most definitely ‘gets it’. Note that that are a few key items in the piece – namely the distinction between hard drugs (cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines) and soft drugs (marijuana) and that the enforcement of drug laws are racist in nature and implementation.  If your state is acting on or considering prison and sentencing reform, please let Senator Webb’s office know about it.

[This story fits perfectly with my mantra that it's not how wonderful legalizing marijuana could be, it's how awful prohibition of marijuana is that will bring about the change we seek. -- "R"R]