[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Right now they're costing the taxpayer billions. They get free food, water, shelter, clothing, a stipend, plus work credits, college degree if they want it, legal assistance, and housing assistance when they get out. And of course since they're now an ex-con, they're not eligible for most jobs, or business loans, and the jobs they CAN get are mostly minimum wage. So they end up stuck in the circular cycle of crime, and we the people whine about how all these criminals are living on the taxpayer dollar.

Here's an idea: you can make these folks NOT be criminals, by making use and possession of cannabis legal. At the very least, it should be legal for medical use, and controlled for recreational use (like, you can ingest whatever, but can't smoke it anywhere in public, and fines/penalties/jail time for driving while under the influence, just as it is now with any other drug).

I see no reason to define a new law for an intoxicating substance. We already have one, and it does NOT ban it's use in public, but does restrict it - like Alcohol.