Did I read this correctly?
This makes no sense.
Depends on the jurisdiction.
People smoke weed for a variety of reasons, but one of them is to reduce stress which is caused by the GIRK pathways releasing potassium from the cells into the blood stream, hyperpolarisation. Try it by swapping sodium chloride with potassium chloride and you wont be half as stressed with modern life, your intelligence will increase and your physical performance will increase. The take away is this, sodium causes cells to take on water, potassium causes cells to take on glucose, amino acids and other nutrients. Sodium starves the body at the cellular level.
You missed a follow-up. It happened because the original study failed to mention that these judges handled serious offenses before lunch leaving simpler cases for the after.
people like Cicconetti probably make for a 'feel good' story but seeing this makes me bitter. Judges are elected officials in the US, so the judge you get can be pretty arbitrary. They are allowed to be callous, and impose very harsh sentences, with little or no oversight. They can lie, and be backed entirely by the prosecution.
If I had a judge that imposed 9 years in prison, or 3 weeks of standing in a field wearing a funny hat, I would immediately take prison. I dont know this judge and my appointed attorney for the state isnt exactly knocking it out of the park. Prison comes with formal educational options like finishing a GED or starting college. It has educated psychologists and psychiatrists to seriously help with some offenders major problems; its not just a clever guy in a robe. Finally, prison has work placement assistance and reintegration assistance if needed.
My "feel good" punishment will still come with a criminal conviction. The difference is I will have foregone any semblance of formal restitution in the eyes of my friends, family, or employers.