I tried to find some statistics on how many people are in prison for just marijuana possession or trafficking, but I can't seem to find any reliable numbers.

The legalization movement uses numbers that include people who were simply arrested for marijuana possession/trafficking and don't exclude those charged with other crimes (assault, possession of other illegal drugs, etc) to make the number seem as large as possible while the anti-legalization people use numbers of those found guilty of only marijuana possession but not trafficking or other non-violent crimes to make the number as small as possible.

Realistically speaking, how many people are in prison today in the US for just non-violent marijuana related crimes? Basically, how many people would we actually let out?

I don't know the numbers, but I know, annecdotally, three people who were:

* Originally picked up on posession of marijuana (in small amounts; under "whatever" grams)

* Put on probation for said offense

* Subsequently violated probation and ended up in jail for 30 days

None of these people did anything violent. Two were picked up during a traffic stop; one speeding, the other at a DUI checkpoint (he was sober). The other was approached by someone at a bar and asked if he wanted to go outside and "toke up".

So I guess my message is, it doesn't really matter to me the number of arrests versus the number of people in jail because the whole system seems predisposed to funnel people in ot the jail and prison system regardless. Even if you get arrested for a small amount, it costs you a bunch of money and you end up on a very short leash. For what? Who is being protected here?

I haven't used marijuana since my early twenties (I'm 34 now), but I really have a hard time feeling at all concerned about those who do with respect to my own safety. I do feel very concerned about the waste of energy and output of those individuals who get roped in to this mess.

I don't think that a large majority of the population supporting a certain policy is a good predictor for the implementation of that policy. In October of 2008, more than 98% of the population supported a certain policy and the opposite policy was implemented.

While this is often true, I think gay rights and MJ legalization are inevitabilities that poll numbers show upward trajectories for, and states are already breaking with the federal government to support. The domino affect, state by state, ultimately will compel the feds. Or so I hope.

Unfortunately, supporting legal marijuana does not mean they're interested in pushing for legalization.

"Sure, I don't care what other people do." != "We will fight for legalization."

True, but lack of resistance helps a lot. With fewer and fewer people pushing to keep it illegal, it'll be easier to legalize.

I'm in the 'do what you want, so long as you don't affect me with it' camp. In other words, I don't want it in my system, so don't smoke it in public.

Areas money could be saved if the drug war was ended:

- Prisons

- Policing

- Courts

On top of the unimaginably huge pile of money that would be gained from taxing it... I think legalization is going to have to happen out of financial necessity, even if the politicians and half the population wouldn't agree to it sans financial crisis.

It would be over if the drug war was a) based on some form of rational thought or b) effective.

Also, I'm not sure what the legalization of marijuana has to do with ending the drug war. The drug war will live on long past the legalization of marijuana. It's simply too profitable to end it.

> Also, I'm not sure what the legalization of marijuana has to do with ending the drug war.

Thank you. How many of that half who support the legalization of weed also support the legalization of cocaine or meth? Exactly.

Tell someone you support the legalization of all drugs and they'll look at you like you're from Mars.

Still, MJ represents the majority of drug arrests; e.g. a significant curtailment of the drug war if legalized

Curiously, my name is Mars, and I support the legalization of all drugs.

The drug war causes far more harm than the drugs ever could.

Why is this on the front page of Hacker News? I read it, it's interesting and relates to current events, but i don't think this belongs on HN

Good point, even though I personally find it somewhat interesting it's not really HN related, it's not as if there aren't much better places to read about the drugwar. It's more reason.com then hacker news.

More than 2/3 of Americans support higher taxes on the wealthy, but I wouldn't hold my breath…