I was struck by the magnitude of their efforts, and felt that I should be doing something on some issue, though I hadn't decided what issue yet. It was a compelling portrayal of the injustice in the policy approach we now have. I have been opposed to Prohibition for as long as I can remember. These feelings first came into focus during a brief stint as an intern in the DA's office. Every case I saw was tainted.
Some examples are below.
We are punishing youthful experimentation, illness, and poverty. Including probation, parole, and related sentences, there are over 6 million people in the penal system. Many others have longer sentences because of previous drug convictions. This is a human rights crisis. Among other things, it impairs their future earnings.