Philadelphia Saves $2 Million By Not Prosecuting Pot Smokers

Cerpin Taxt · 07-09-2011, 10:46 AM

Philadelphia Saves $2 Million By Not Prosecuting Pot Smokers - The Consumerist

Quote:

Just over a year ago, the powers that be in Philadelphia effectively decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana by offering offenders the chance to enroll in a three-hour class that would expunge the offense from their records. Not only did this give Philadelphia police more time and energy to focus on more serious crimes, it has also saved the city a pretty sizable Ziploc bag of green stuff.

"We were spending thousands of dollars for when someone possessed $10 or $15 worth of weed," District Attorney Seth Williams tells the Philadelphia Daily News. "It just didn't make any sense."

Under the program, being caught with up to 30 grams of marijuana is no longer a misdemeanor but a summary offense. By simply paying $200 to attend the three-hour class on the ills of drug use and abuse, the arrestee's record is wiped clean of the offense.

Before this change, offenders faced up to $500 in fines and possible, though unlikely jail time. If the suspect fought the charges, this meant expenses for the city — prosecutors, judges, lab tests, public defenders, etc. By all but decriminalizing pot, Williams estimates that the city has saved $2 million in the last 12 months.

Additionally, police tell the News that there has been no noticeable impact on the quality of life in Philadelphia since the program went into effect.

Looking at the bigger picture, DA Williams says the current way most U.S. authorities treat drug possession is shortsighted.

"I can put someone in jail for 90 days because they possess crack. But if we don't get them the help they need for their addiction, when they get out of jail, they're just going to be a 90-day-older crack addict," he explains. "We have to treat drug addiction as a public-health problem, not just a criminal-justice problem."

D.A.: Philly's new pot policy just makes sense ... and saves dollars [Philadelphia Daily News]

Slowly...

**Mafoo** · 07-09-2011, 11:04 AM

i still think its bullshit that you have to pay 200 dollars and take a class.

we should do the same to people who smoke tobacco or get a "drunk in public"

fenderbender · 07-09-2011, 12:03 PM

bout fuckin time man.

Philly police actually have shit to do. There are some parts of the city that are downright scary...

I once got pulled over in philly for stopping at a streetlight. the cop was like "Wtf are you doing stopping you car in this neighborhood?!?"

I wonder when all police are actually gonna start POLICING, and stop being soldiers for this corrupt war on drugs...

Waves · 07-09-2011, 12:19 PM

and on the same day...

Feds: Pot has no medical purpose - Health - Health care - More health news - msnbc.com

07-09-2011, 11:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mafoo nice daze Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: the anguish of anticipated transformation Posts: 5,975 Thanks: 3,776 Thanked 2,652 Times in 1,698 Posts	i still think its bullshit that you have to pay 200 dollars and take a class. we should do the same to people who smoke tobacco or get a "drunk in public" __________________ PLUR For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return

07-09-2011, 12:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Waves Duderino Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: chiburbs Posts: 15,405 Thanks: 991 Thanked 4,036 Times in 2,224 Posts	and on the same day... Feds: Pot has no medical purpose - Health - Health care - More health news - msnbc.com __________________ On this life that we call home The years go fast and the days go so slow

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