Decriminalization

== ==
* Planks on Decriminalization from Mark Rauterkus
== We cannot tolerate the fear and distrust that thrives in a criminalized environment.==
In a time when foreign terrorists threaten our country, we cannot afford to turn against our neighbors out of paranoia. We cannot afford to spy on and imprison those who are doing us no harm. We cannot risk driving them to alliances of convenience with the violent elements that control black market industries.
== Under the radar ==
===Pot===
There is a lot of support for decriminalizing of pot, but it is under the radar. One third of Pennsylvanians have smoked pot in the past year.
Every year the Federal Government locks up tens of thousands of responsible users of marijuana. Every year the government uses asset forfeiture laws to steal millions of dollar in cars and homes and personal property from responsible marijuana users.
Responsible cannabis users might be our parents, our grown sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our friends and our neighbors.
===Unacceptable Trends ===
Blacks and Hispanics arrested on drug charges are 6 to 7 times more likely to be incarcerated than a white person. In the private sector, the firing of blacks or Hispanics at such high rates for the same thing would bring big trouble.
category: justice