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Thanks to Prohibition, we now have a far higher percentage of our own citizens locked in cages than any other nation on the whole planet. Apart from the fact that these extra prisoners are not contributing economically to society, it also costs 50,000 dollars per annum to incarcerate them. Additionally, their families often go on government assistance, leaving the average tax payer to pick up the bill. Their kids may also be taken into care, or raised by foster parents—again with our money. Now add to all this: the court costs, jail costs, and the salaries of all those people that have to deal with the enforcement of prohibition—like police officers, judges and public defenders—and you'll start to get a fair idea of why "Black Thursday" (October 24, 1929) happened during the period of another of our great experiments: Alcohol Prohibition (1919-1933)

The Justice Department is protecting its turf! Of the roughly $50 Billion spent annually by the government on the "War on Drugs" the portion spent to "fight" marijuana is between $13 Billion and $17 Billion every year for the last 40. Another useless war right along with Iraq and Afghanistan; and there are casualties. Over 800,000 people are charged annually in the U.S. for marijuana use and sales, with over 40,000 incarcerated at any one time, which at a cost $25,000 per prisoner per year is about $100 million per year to state and local government. This doesn't include court costs and police time, for a "crime" in name only. Unlike other drugs, the FBI's National Crime Information Center has not correlated marijuana crime with violent and property crime for years. They stopped because no correlation exists--in fact, marijuana users engage in property and violent crime at rate less than the average citizen. Yet, without irony intended, the Feds classify marijuana as a Class One drug, while meth-amphetamines they consider Class Two. Excuse me, but there is plenty of property and violent crime associated with meth's use. Yes, marijuana may make you stupid, but meth kills (and not just the users). No, don't expect the Feds to speak up. They have a Czar and fiefdom to maintain. If you are interested, check out LEAP-Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.

The Justice Department is protecting its turf! Of the roughly $50 Billion spent annually by the government on the "War on Drugs" the portion spent to "fight" marijuana is between $13 Billion and $17 Billion every year for the last 40. Another useless war right along with Iraq and Afghanistan; and there are casualties. Over 800,000 people are charged annually in the U.S. for marijuana use and sales, with over 40,000 incarcerated at any one time, which at a cost $25,000 per prisoner per year is a Billion dollars per year to state and local government. This doesn't include court costs and police time, for a "crime" in name only. Unlike other drugs, the FBI's National Crime Information Center has not correlated marijuana crime with violent and property crime for years. They stopped because no correlation exists--in fact, marijuana users engage in property and violent crime at rate less than the average citizen. Yet, without irony intended, the Feds classify marijuana as a Class One drug, while meth-amphetamines they consider Class Two. Excuse me, but there is plenty of property and violent crime associated with meth's use. Yes, marijuana may make you stupid, but meth kills (and not just the users). No, don't expect the Feds to speak up. They have a Czar and fiefdom to maintain. If you are interested, check out LEAP-Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.