How many people in USA are in jail because of possession of marijuana?

Question

I'm looking for how many people are in jail, all around the United States for possession of marijuana.

Answer 1

I would say that very few are in jail for possession. In most states, possession of under an ounce of marijuana, is only a misdemeanor and a slap on the wrist. It's when you have an ounce or more that you go to jail, because the charge changes from possession to possession with intent to distribute. This is considered a much more serious offense. In my opinion, people should not serve jail time for buying or selling any amount of marijuana, and hopefully that will change. I wish I could provide you with some figures, but at the moment I have no idea what an accurate number would be. Good luck in your search.

Answer 2

I don't know the number. I believe that marijuana convictions represent by far the single most common reason for a person to be in jail n the US.

It all goes back to ronald reagan and a law that mandated jail terms for persons convicted of possession of marijuana beyond a really small amount. This law still exists I believe. The amount used for separating personal use from dealing was trivial and easily bypassed by the average user (well under an ounce I believe but I honestly don't remember).

In fact, there are so many people in jail because of this law, that a lot of dangerous felons (you know, murders and rapist and child molesters and assaulters and all sorts of nasty types) were being released early to make room for pot smokers, basically.

It is a really messed up situation. I mean, I don't smoke pot although I wont deny having done so in the past, but the whole idea of putting potsmokers in jail kind of seems pretty harsh to me. Pot smokers are not typically violent felons, unlike other drug users (including alcohol abusers), and I really don't see the benefit to society. In fact, I see just the opposite.

Most people are completely unaware of this. Why, in a supposedly free country is the percent of people in jail among the highest in the entire world? Something is seriously wrong with the system. Never mind the huge fiscal cost, the cost in messed up lives is enormous.

Hey, maybe I am wrong and completely out to lunch. I would actually be glad to learn that I am wrong. But unfortunately I do not think so.

Answer 3

Most likely only if they are dealer quantities.
Actual possession of user quantities most likely next to none.
Unless they were say part of a driving offence which would be the leading offence.
It would be impossible to know unless there are rough stats available from the actual courts systems from every state.
That's a lot of homework to expect from this question here.

Answer 4

to many,

time to legalize the weed. Need to make room in the jails and prisons for real criminals.

like child rapers and murderers,

surely our gov't could find away to tax it and market it. hey that would probaly take care of the national debt.

Answer 5

Usually a person gets probation for simple posession but a lot of people are in prison for distributing and should be.

Answer 6

the jails ought to be full of BOOZERS since alcohol is the most addictive drug and does the most damage to the brain and body.

Answer 7

not very many. possession is only a misdemeanor.

Answer 8

Way too many!!!

Answer 9

400 billion man....

Answer 10

I dunno... a hell of a lot more than in canada tho... You know your gettin good bud when your buying off the same dealer as the po-po-police!




LEGALIZE MARIJUANA! (starts chant)
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
(clearly I havent smoked enough today)