In truth there is yet another expense, victim, within our society that is the result of such prosecutions as well. Still another loss suffered by society as a whole. That person is the convicted. Society looses another one of its otherwise productive members. A member who would produce and expend an income while going about the normal activity of living.
Society is deprived of the taxes such a productive member pays.
The social loss to the fabric of this countries families is immeasurable. Obviously, from a financial standpoint alone, the system must change. When added together, the cumulative expense associated with the continued criminal prosecution and incarceration of those who simply possess marijuana are disproportionate to any possible real, or imagined, benefit which may be derived from their prosecution by society as a whole. Further, a great deal of money is generated both by private business and by the government as a product of the manufacture, distribution, sale and use by those members of society who choose to do those acts lawfully. From the farmers who grow the raw materials for its manufacture, and at every step of the process, both private and public moneys are generated.