45,000

According to a post at Reason Mag's online blog, there are approximately 45,000 people currently incarcerated for marijuana offenses.


From the post:

They represent about 12 percent of drug offenders in state prisons and 13 percent of drug offenders in federal prisons.



This is insane. Study after study has shown that pot is pretty well harmless and that the drug war in general is a complete failure... why do we continue to insist on jailing people whose crimes have no victims? Why do we prosecute people who, at worst, harm their own bodies?

Sure, you hear arguments about "well, what if they get behind a wheel or break into a store to steal things to support their habits?" Those arguments have nothing to do with the drugs, though - they are in regards to behavior. Those behaviors are already illegal. No one is suggesting that we repeal DUI or property laws!

Why the hell is pot still illegal??