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Try this: Federal Obstruction of Medical Marijuana Research

"No politician in our PC-heavy climate would even dare to think about it. "

Oh, I think one might at least. It is discussed quite openly in Vermont, and I seem to recall other states have legalized it as well. This suggests to me that more that one politician has been brave enough to speak truthfully on the subject.

Frankly I always knew that weed would be legalized and Windows would finally be recognized as the garbage it is by most qualified people in technology. I'm just surprised it has taken the former longer to transpire than the latter :-)

That would require a comprehensive array of well constructed studies to separate the variables, the causes and the effects.
However for the past few decades, the US government has proven spectacularly bad at enabling, supporting or funding unbiased research.

http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs...
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/201...

So as far as I can tell, there isn't much to go on, which is probably how legislators like it.

Their distortions continue in part because no matter how many times President Obama, NSA Director Keith Alexander, Clapper and others egregiously mislead the public in their statements about surveillance, news organizations treat them as honest men and report on subsequent statements as if they're presumptively true.

Exactly, anyone familiar with this: http://www.mpp.org/our-work/campaigns/drug-czar/gao-rejects-us-rep-pauls.html

Who then has watched the news media just lap up every word the ONDCP puts out as if the drug czar was reading the word of god off golden tablets for them; knows this is nothing new, but is a huge problem.

These people get way more credibility than they rightly deserve.

Smoking marijuana can lead to serious consequences, up to and including becoming a POT-US.

I'm just basing that assertion on poll numbers like these: Public Policy Polling, Gallup.

Your suggestion to use the money currently spent on unneeded drug enforcement on needed drug enforcement is interesting since prisons and law enforcement agencies receive hundreds of millions from the government to fund such projects and would suffer horribly if they were to lose such funding. Unfortunately things aren't that simple or we probably wouldn't be in the mess that we still are. I'm guessing that at least a small part of the problem with your scenario (looking past the fact that pretty much every politician in the U.S. would have to admit that they've been *WRONG* for the past 80 years) is that cops and prison guards don't *want* to go from bashing in doors and faces to handing out lollipops to 3rd graders.

The fact that they once fought for the right to use these thermal imagers is proof of exactly that. They want high level gear so they can go run 25-man raids. Certainly some of the /. community can relate to that.

Things are very slowly getting better with more and more states passing laws to allow the use of medical marijuana and are also lessening the penalties for simple possession. The Seattle prosecutor's office recently stopped filing charges for possession altogether since it was such a waste of their time and now the incoming mayor wants to legalize and regulate pot. This is far from the only instance of local agencies stepping in to say "Enough of this nonsense." Anyone who keeps up with weed-related news of course also knows about the memo sent to the DEA earlier this year strongly urging them to stop going after medical marijuana users. I sincerely hope that this movement keeps spreading as it appears to be. Maybe in 10 years we'll finally have full federal and state legalization. Unfortunately a lot of people were hoping for the same thing back in 1970 and yet here we are...

As a side note, anyone who wants to learn the basic history and current status of the marijuana community should really watch The Union. It's an excellent documentary.

About 800,000 arrests per year or to put it another way about one person in four using an average life span of 75yrs.

It's just a statistic I heard somewhere. There are about 800,000 arrests per year, (say) 75yr life expectancy, gives 60 million, that's 60 million too many. A conviction for dope can fuck up your life, if you are not sent to to prison for life on possesion of 2oz, you can still lose your farm, house, or they can take your kids.

"I strongly prefer that we tax vices, not necessities."

Agreed, the US alone spends $100 Billion/yr just to enforce pot prohibition, the DEA recieves $10 billion/yr of that directly, again this is just for pot. Pot is the largest cash crop in the US in dollar terms (yes bigger than corn, cotton, wheat, etc). Take that $100 billion/yr plus the tax bonanza on legal pot and fix the health system or something useful. Once the US legalises pot the rest of the western world will follow.

One american is arrested for pot every 18 seconds. And yes, he is getting sick and tired of it!

Citation

Good example. You're calling for these online casinos to be legalized and regulated. Collusion is extremely easy to detect if you're running the game and can see all the cards. If you're worried about rigged games, you should audit the casino, and fine the hell out of anyone running a bad table.

By not collecting the winnings, they're attempting to fix the symptom and not the problem. It's disturbingly similar to the DEA's program to seize assets of those suspected of drug crimes. You know, the one that robs and kills people.

Rock Slide, oh no, this news is so important it'll be remembered forever!

Why does Slashdot run stupid shit like this and spam shit from Ronald Pimplebottom but ignores cannabis news?

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Now this is more interesting and far reaching news than some rock slide or spam article! I urge interested individuals to resubmit this story again and again until it gets posted on the front page of Slashdot.

Rock Slide, oh no, this news is so important it'll be remembered forever!

Why does Slashdot run stupid shit like this and spam shit from Ronald Pimplebottom but ignores cannabis news?

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Now this is more interesting and far reaching news than some rock slide or spam article! I urge interested individuals to resubmit this story again and again until it gets posted on the front page of Slashdot.

Rock Slide, oh no, this news is so important it'll be remembered forever!

Why does Slashdot run stupid shit like this and spam shit from Ronald Pimplebottom but ignores cannabis news?

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Now this is more interesting and far reaching news than some rock slide or spam article! I urge interested individuals to resubmit this story again and again until it gets posted on the front page of Slashdot.

Rock Slide, oh no, this news is so important it'll be remembered forever!

Why does Slashdot run stupid shit like this and spam shit from Ronald Pimplebottom but ignores cannabis news?

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Now this is more interesting and far reaching news than some rock slide or spam article! I urge interested individuals to resubmit this story again and again until it gets posted on the front page of Slashdot.

Rock Slide, oh no, this news is so important it'll be remembered forever!

Why does Slashdot run stupid shit like this and spam shit from Ronald Pimplebottom but ignores cannabis news?

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Now this is more interesting and far reaching news than some rock slide or spam article! I urge interested individuals to resubmit this story again and again until it gets posted on the front page of Slashdot.

Rock Slide, oh no, this news is so important it'll be remembered forever!

Why does Slashdot run stupid shit like this and spam shit from Ronald Pimplebottom but ignores cannabis news?

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Now this is more interesting and far reaching news than some rock slide or spam article! I urge interested individuals to resubmit this story again and again until it gets posted on the front page of Slashdot.

Rock Slide, oh no, this news is so important it'll be remembered forever!

Why does Slashdot run stupid shit like this and spam shit from Ronald Pimplebottom but ignores cannabis news?

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Now this is more interesting and far reaching news than some rock slide or spam article! I urge interested individuals to resubmit this story again and again until it gets posted on the front page of Slashdot.

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

Too bad Slashdot didn't post the submission I made for this news item:

"Rep. Barney Frank -- shown here at a July 30 press conference with MPP's Rob Kampia -- has introduced a bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations. Take a minute to urge your member of Congress to support this commonsense bill now."

Now that's something worth passing! A lot of geeks smoke cannabis, I'm sure this news item would be interesting to a lot of geeks, but Slashdot passed on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo78L3ZFGKk
https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

Other items of interest:

http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-milton-friedman-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-rick-steves/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-john-newmeyer/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-2/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/the-human-cost-of-marijuana-prohibition-part-1/
http://tv.mpp.org/shorts/profiles-in-marijuana-reform-jim-hightower/

MPP.org Medical Marijuana Study

Please download and print the flyer below and post it wherever you think qualifying medical marijuana patients may see it.

A Study to Assess Whether Using Vaporized Marijuana Affects the Safety of Prescribed Opioids in Patients Treated for Chronic Pain

http://mpp.org/assets/pdfs/download-materials/adrams-flyer.html
http://mpp.org/assets/pdfs/download-materials/Abrams_Flyer.pdf
http://mpp.org/assets/pdfs/download-materials/Abrams_Flyer.jpg

This study will assess the clinical safety of using marijuana with opioids by monitoring the short-term side effects associated with combined therapy.

To Join This Study you MUST:

- Have ongoing chronic pain
- Be 18 or older
- Be taking either OxyContin or MS Contin (or Kadian) tiwce daily
- Be willing to give up marijuana for a month prior to entering study
- Not be a cigarette and/or cigar smoker, or be willing not to smoke for two weeks before starting the study
- Meet some additional criteria

If you are eligible, you will:

- Spend five days and nights in a clinical research center at San Francisco General Hospital
- Have blood tests and other measurements done
- Inhale vaporized medical marijuana three times a day

You can receive $520 for participating

For more information call (415) 476-9554 ext. 315

If you qualify but need assistance with transportation to San Francisco, Write Josh Sonstroem At MAPS at accounting@maps.org

Community Consortium
Positive Health Program of the UCSF Medical Service At San Francisco General Hospital

MPP.org Medical Marijuana Study

Please download and print the flyer below and post it wherever you think qualifying medical marijuana patients may see it.

A Study to Assess Whether Using Vaporized Marijuana Affects the Safety of Prescribed Opioids in Patients Treated for Chronic Pain

http://mpp.org/assets/pdfs/download-materials/adrams-flyer.html
http://mpp.org/assets/pdfs/download-materials/Abrams_Flyer.pdf
http://mpp.org/assets/pdfs/download-materials/Abrams_Flyer.jpg

This study will assess the clinical safety of using marijuana with opioids by monitoring the short-term side effects associated with combined therapy.

To Join This Study you MUST:

- Have ongoing chronic pain
- Be 18 or older
- Be taking either OxyContin or MS Contin (or Kadian) tiwce daily
- Be willing to give up marijuana for a month prior to entering study
- Not be a cigarette and/or cigar smoker, or be willing not to smoke for two weeks before starting the study
- Meet some additional criteria

If you are eligible, you will:

- Spend five days and nights in a clinical research center at San Francisco General Hospital
- Have blood tests and other measurements done
- Inhale vaporized medical marijuana three times a day

You can receive $520 for participating

For more information call (415) 476-9554 ext. 315

If you qualify but need assistance with transportation to San Francisco, Write Josh Sonstroem At MAPS at accounting@maps.org

Community Consortium
Positive Health Program of the UCSF Medical Service At San Francisco General Hospital

MPP.org Medical Marijuana Study

Please download and print the flyer below and post it wherever you think qualifying medical marijuana patients may see it.

A Study to Assess Whether Using Vaporized Marijuana Affects the Safety of Prescribed Opioids in Patients Treated for Chronic Pain

http://mpp.org/assets/pdfs/download-materials/adrams-flyer.html
http://mpp.org/assets/pdfs/download-materials/Abrams_Flyer.pdf
http://mpp.org/assets/pdfs/download-materials/Abrams_Flyer.jpg

This study will assess the clinical safety of using marijuana with opioids by monitoring the short-term side effects associated with combined therapy.

To Join This Study you MUST:

- Have ongoing chronic pain
- Be 18 or older
- Be taking either OxyContin or MS Contin (or Kadian) tiwce daily
- Be willing to give up marijuana for a month prior to entering study
- Not be a cigarette and/or cigar smoker, or be willing not to smoke for two weeks before starting the study
- Meet some additional criteria

If you are eligible, you will:

- Spend five days and nights in a clinical research center at San Francisco General Hospital
- Have blood tests and other measurements done
- Inhale vaporized medical marijuana three times a day

You can receive $520 for participating

For more information call (415) 476-9554 ext. 315

If you qualify but need assistance with transportation to San Francisco, Write Josh Sonstroem At MAPS at accounting@maps.org

Community Consortium
Positive Health Program of the UCSF Medical Service At San Francisco General Hospital

Regarding the recent SSL bungle:

I'm not placing blame on anyone, but let us consider for a moment:

How long would it take a member of a rogue organization, a company such as Microsoft, or an intelligence agency to land a spot into such a role as a code monkey at Debian.org, under the guise of a pro-FOSS person? You do know all three examples above are quite savvy when it comes to infiltration, mafias, corporations, and intelligence agencies do this all of the time. So let us suppose this is what happened here, and considering the wide range of impact with this issue, I believe this is exactly what may have happened.

What checks and balances are in place to weed out potential moles? Any? And would you really know what to look for even if such a policy is in place? Perhaps this question is worthy of an "Ask Slashdot" submission?

How do you deal with the most sinister of rootkits: the human mole?

How many Tor hidden services (.onion) were taken down because of MITM attacks related to this issue? Fucking moles!


You can say "all the checks are in place, we know who did what" but by the time something like this happens again, if the right people are behind it, a dipshit in the dark to take the blame could easily fall without the puppet master being fingered, or an operative in the wise could simply disappear, leaving only his ghostly false identity behind and a bunch of clueless people. You can rub your rhubarb all you want about how the system works, but as this long standing SSL issues shows: you are fucking clueless. What will be the next security issue? Will you react the same way to this mole inquiry? Will you mod this post down while you mod useless replies up which don't solve the issue but only serve to shine someone's e-penis and add to their slashdot karma? You are a fucking joke!

legalize marijuana - jack herer - NORML - MPP

Quit jailing non-violent marijuana smokers/growers they don't need their hineys plundered and lives ruined by poverty and disease for enjoying nature!

If smoking marijuana makes you lazy, why are a majority of sober Americans fat and apathetic, failing to do anything useful about the land of nothing for free other than posting easily forgotten content to their worthless ego-masturbatory blogs?

But why think when you can masturbate? After all, the goverMICROSOFTnment knows how to take care of us.

Regarding the recent SSL bungle:

I'm not placing blame on anyone, but let us consider for a moment:

How long would it take a member of a rogue organization, a company such as Microsoft, or an intelligence agency to land a spot into such a role as a code monkey at Debian.org, under the guise of a pro-FOSS person? You do know all three examples above are quite savvy when it comes to infiltration, mafias, corporations, and intelligence agencies do this all of the time. So let us suppose this is what happened here, and considering the wide range of impact with this issue, I believe this is exactly what may have happened.

What checks and balances are in place to weed out potential moles? Any? And would you really know what to look for even if such a policy is in place? Perhaps this question is worthy of an "Ask Slashdot" submission?

How do you deal with the most sinister of rootkits: the human mole?

How many Tor hidden services (.onion) were taken down because of MITM attacks related to this issue? Fucking moles!

legalize marijuana - jack herer - NORML - MPP

Quit jailing non-violent marijuana smokers/growers they don't need their hineys plundered and lives ruined by poverty and disease for enjoying nature!

If smoking marijuana makes you lazy, why are a majority of sober Americans fat and apathetic, failing to do anything useful about the land of nothing for free other than posting easily forgotten content to their worthless ego-masturbatory blogs?

But why think when you can masturbate? After all, the goverMICROSOFTnment knows how to take care of us.

Regarding the recent SSL bungle:

I'm not placing blame on anyone, but let us consider for a moment:

How long would it take a member of a rogue organization, a company such as Microsoft, or an intelligence agency to land a spot into such a role as a code monkey at Debian.org, under the guise of a pro-FOSS person? You do know all three examples above are quite savvy when it comes to infiltration, mafias, corporations, and intelligence agencies do this all of the time. So let us suppose this is what happened here, and considering the wide range of impact with this issue, I believe this is exactly what may have happened.

What checks and balances are in place to weed out potential moles? Any? And would you really know what to look for even if such a policy is in place? Perhaps this question is worthy of an "Ask Slashdot" submission?

How do you deal with the most sinister of rootkits: the human mole?

How many Tor hidden services (.onion) were taken down because of MITM attacks related to this issue? Fucking moles!

legalize marijuana - jack herer - NORML - MPP

Quit jailing non-violent marijuana smokers/growers they don't need their hineys plundered and lives ruined by poverty and disease for enjoying nature!

If smoking marijuana makes you lazy, why are a majority of sober Americans fat and apathetic, failing to do anything useful about the land of nothing for free other than posting easily forgotten content to their worthless ego-masturbatory blogs?

Opening statement: I've never used any of the currently illegal drugs and don't intend to, yet I am a strong supporter marijuana legalization.

When I popped into this thread, I was expecting to see the usual arguments. I was expecting to spend a little time combatting ignorance. I wasn't expecting any actual progress.

However, what amazed me was that every highly rated comment (I browse at +3) was pro-legalization. Every single one. Sure, they were responding to some of the same tired old arguments, but it seemed that the pro-legalization camp was far more strongly represented by both posters and mods. That surprised me and made me hopeful. I'm a regular financial supporter of The Marijuana Policy Project. There are so many lost causes in the world, improvements I'd love to see that will never happen. But I believe this is one issue that we might actually see resolved in our lifetimes.

I live in the Las Vegas area, and there is a statutory initiative on the ballot this upcoming election. Please, please, please, if you live in the Las Vegas area get out and vote. There are initiatives in other states as well, but I don't know the details there.

I am convinced now there is more than enough support to pass legalization in many states. But people need to get active about it. They need to watch the issue an vote. If this is an issue you care about, please take the time. We're at a possible turning point in the next 10 to 20 years. We can make things better.

Cheers.

When I wrote a reply to Rick Larsen's http://www.ricklarsen.org/ form letter (regarding the petition I signed protesting the Supreme Court decision in Gonzales v. Raich http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._Raich ) Larsen sent the same damn form letter again!

If it were legal it would be cheaper, and the people who sold it would not need to protect themselves from theft since the police would do it for them (it would only be sold at liquor stores to people old enough to buy alchohol). Therefore I could just buy hash and cook with it, or buy a vaporizer at the same place I buy my pot.

Now, I sometimes have to pass a drug test just to be employed. I have been ticketed for possession, and nearly shat myself when I learned the Mandatory Minimum penalty. If I'm caught again I will probably go to jail and pay at least $1000 in fines. Since I am not a dealer it will most certainly be for less possession of less than 42 grams. So marijuana possession, in my experience - and according to the link in my previous post, is anything but sparsely enforced.

So I don't want to give them anything else to prosecute with, thanks very much. It wasn't I who declared a "war" on drugs; I would love to be on the same side as the government on this. I remember the feeling of trust I had when the future Town Marshall stood up in front of us to teach us the DARE program... I wish I could feel it around an officer of the law again.

Oh, and I'm high right now. :)

I received an e-mail today about this job posting. They're looking for an experienced web developer, but an expert in slashcode would likely be able to get the job as it would be pretty useful.

It's also a great excuse to relocate to Las Vegas, but you don't have to.

Aero

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

For starters, there is the ongoing medical marijuana debate. A bunch of states currently allow for the use of medical marijuana in their state. Federal law still has marijuana in the Schedule I category which means it has no medical use, so feds arrest users.
Medical marijuana is an easy one, as so many medical organizations support it.

The current drug czar also uses federal funds to campaign and lobby against drug laws reform at the state level.

The federal government also recently passed a spending bill which "would take away federal grants from local and state transportation authorities that allow citizens to run advertising on buses, trains, or subways in support of reforming our nation's drug laws".

Here is a quote from an article regarding assisted suicide, and the federal government's attempts to stop it by invoking drug laws: "Ashcroft... invoked the federal Controlled Substances Act, a law aimed at drug traffickers, and threatened to use it against physicians who prescribe drugs to help patients end their lives."

There are many other arguments to stop the drug war of course.. our constitution gives us the right to freedom of speech, which presupposes freedom of thought. Many drugs allow us to change how we think, so they should not be banned by the government. The Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics makes this argument, which I personally find quite compelling.

I'm glad you asked this question, and hope I have given you some ideas to think about.

Shit! Add that to all the money Osama is getting from all the weed I buy and I can understand why the gov cant find him in Iraq.

He's proably got enough cash to buy his own pocket Universe.

FYI, I'm not an American, and the page about Cuban human rights abuses which I linked to is a European/international human rights group. So I don't think your generalization about other countries is particularly relevant.

Having lived in Canada for a while, it's certainly true there. Canadians don't see Cuba as any worse than dozens of other repressive countries, and better than many. (They wouldn't vacation there so often nor be their #1 trading partner otherwise)

Any comparison in terms of repressiveness between the two countries is largely silly, even despite the current overreaction to terrorism.

I'm not really trying to claim the US is as bad as Cuba. We're not. But it's nowhere as black and white as many Americans believe- our staggering imprisonment rate for quite trivial crimes should be a national shame. (And you're right- it's a racial issue. I'm part of a multiracial family. I can get away with things my kids will never be able to. See http://www.norml.org/images/state_arrests_2004/AR_ Page_69.gif)

I don't buy the pot smoker comparison, either: show me the pot smoker (not dealer) who is in jail for one to four years for mere possession of single-person quantities.

I can't get exact figures since nobody keeps them, but here's an attempt from http://www.mpp.org/archive/arrest94.html

• Marijuana possession felony convictions comprised "less than 1%" of the total of 893,630 felony convictions in state courts. Assume 0.5%, ~4,500 people in 1992
• 62% of those convicted of drug possession felonies were sentenced to incarceration (33% in state prisons and 29% in local jails) Ignore local jails, ~1500 people in state prison.
• Prison sentences are for long-term confinement (usually for over a year) in a state facility.

Someone from NORML could probably give better figures.

(The true irony of this whole discussion is that I don't smoke pot.)

Besides, taxing interstate transactions is illegal under the "Commerce Clause" of the US Constitution (3) so it'll most likely be placed in within the State "use tax" category which has been very difficult in the past to enforce.

Putting aside the fairness issue taxing ultra low dollar electronic purchases IMO just isn't worth it.

(While many states currently do require a State issued drug tax stamp, because of marijuana's current status as illegal under prohibition few people actually purchase them. The "drug tax stamp" law is most commonly used to add the extra charge of tax evasion to a drug dealer and squeeze him for a little extra money and jail time.)

1. Marijuana prohibition facts
2. Thinking about Drug Legalization
3. Interstate Taxation and the Commerce Clause

The problem is that it's set to pass by default.

Imagine if Congressman Corpmonkey could do his masters bidding by simply avoiding work on a particular day. Rather than explaining why he voted in favor of drilling in the protected areas of Alaska he can simply avoid voting by claiming he didn't know about the issue, had a family emergency, wanted to speak at an AIDS awareness rally, needed to feed orphans, felt it was more important to visit the troops, etc.

The president of the US has the same type of passive approval in his arsenal. If he wants a bill to pass but is afraid that the people will be upset if he approves a bill, he can simply do nothing and the bill becomes law on its own. Here's a wacky example of such logic at the state level.

"I want one, but I'm not a pro athlete, rapper or movie star, so I'll probably have to roll my own"

Dude! I think they roll their own too:

Ricky Williams
Snoop Dog
Woody Harrelson

The Marijuana Policy Project Voters Guide

I have a hard time believing Bob Barr is for civil liberties and people deciding their own laws- The people of Washington DC voted to use medical marijuana with a YES Vote and it was immediately blocked by Barr.

So, he is for civil liberties and freedom ONLY if you agree if its 'morally' acceptable. Does it really matter that it was Marijana? Regardless of Washington DC being a federal district, The whole point is the people have voted and decided on an issue and it was completely overruled by the Federal Government. The hypocrisy is amazing! How can you be worried about censorship, Patriot Act, and government abuses when you were the very person who prevented the people from governing themselves?

We need to wake up and see the whole story.

I know that this will be buried since this story is already a day and a half old, but I figure this, too needs to be said.

Out of that 2.2 million people, somewhere near 700,000 are in jail from possession, use or distribution of marijuana.

That's just wrong, even according to the site which the above poster quotes. Here's the relevant lines:

There were more than 700,000 marijuana arrests in the United States in 1997...Calculations based on recent BJS reports suggest that, at any one time, 59,300 prisoners charged with or convicted of violating marijuana laws (3.3% of the total incarcerated population) are behind bars, at a total cost to taxpayers of some $1.2 billion per year.

Okay, so to review:

1. The 700,000 number is the number of arrests, not those incarcerated.
2. The actual number, based on the estimates, is much smaller.
3. Also keep in mind that this number is from a 1997study. I don't know what the current numbers are, but they may or may not be different.

That's all for now...