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California Marijuana Decriminalization Drops Youth Crime Rate To Record Low
Between 2010 and 2011, California experienced a drastic 20 percent decrease in juvenile crime--bringing the underage crime rate to the lowest level since the state started keeping records in 1954.
According to a recently released study, much of that improvement can be credited to the decriminalization of marijuana.
The study, entitled "California Youth Crime Plunges to All-Time Low" and released by the San Francisco-based Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, looked at the number of people under the age of 18 who were arrested in the state over the past eight decades. The research not only found juvenile crime to be at its lowest level ever but, in the wake of then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signing a bill reducing the punishment for possessing a small amount of marijuana from a misdemeanor to simply an infraction, the drop in rates was particularity significant.
In that one-year period, the number of arrests for violent crimes dropped by 16 percent, homicide went down by 26 percent and drug arrests decreased by nearly 50 percent.
The category of drug arrests showed decreases in every type of crime; however, the vast majority of the drop resulted from far fewer arrests for marijuana possession. In 2010, marijuana possession accounted for 64 percent of all drug arrests, and in 2011, that number decreased to only 46 percent.
California's drop in serious youth crime has decreased faster than in the rest of the nation.
According to a recently released study, much of that improvement can be credited to the decriminalization of marijuana.
The study, entitled "California Youth Crime Plunges to All-Time Low" and released by the San Francisco-based Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, looked at the number of people under the age of 18 who were arrested in the state over the past eight decades. The research not only found juvenile crime to be at its lowest level ever but, in the wake of then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signing a bill reducing the punishment for possessing a small amount of marijuana from a misdemeanor to simply an infraction, the drop in rates was particularity significant.
In that one-year period, the number of arrests for violent crimes dropped by 16 percent, homicide went down by 26 percent and drug arrests decreased by nearly 50 percent.
The category of drug arrests showed decreases in every type of crime; however, the vast majority of the drop resulted from far fewer arrests for marijuana possession. In 2010, marijuana possession accounted for 64 percent of all drug arrests, and in 2011, that number decreased to only 46 percent.
California's drop in serious youth crime has decreased faster than in the rest of the nation.
Cigarettes, again, apples and oranges, IMO. Nicotine is not a substance that causes intoxication, or impairment.
Using hemp for various uses such as paper or clothing to me is different than smoking it. Our culture is just going in a direction that bothers me. This board is very pro legalization and it seems some states agree with them. However, if I am ever given a chance to vote on it in my state, I will vote against it. If I am in the minority, well, that is life. But I see it as such a shame that so many want this to be the direction our country takes. The message that pot is not legal, a crime to smoke is one I count on to help drive home to my children that it is a bad idea. And in my heart of hearts, I think it IS a bad idea.
"IDIOTS"
Thomas Jefferson received the United States fist patent; A hemp thrashing machine. He also smuggled new strains of the cannabis seed from China, to France, Then to America, all awhile serving as ambassador to France. Jefferson also wrote about the advantages of hemp over tobacco, in use, labor and for the sake of the land, probably on hemp paper.
Benjamin Franklin owned one of the first paper mills that processed hemp into parchment, that of which was used in many first drafts that later became the documents that America stands by. The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”, the Federalist (and Anti-Federalist) Papers, the Articles of Confederation, and of course the United States Constitution were all written on hemp paper.
George Washington not only grew hemp for clothes (home spun), he actually has a quote from his diary from August 7, 1765: "— began to separate the male from the female hemp at Do — rather too late." It is debatable, but today that technique is used solely for drug potency in marijuana. There are a few trace evidences to the idea that our founding fathers smoked hemp for pleasure, but it seems likely.
Thomas Jefferson received the United States fist patent; A hemp thrashing machine. He also smuggled new strains of the cannabis seed from China, to France, Then to America, all awhile serving as ambassador to France. Jefferson also wrote about the advantages of hemp over tobacco, in use, labor and for the sake of the land, probably on hemp paper.
Benjamin Franklin owned one of the first paper mills that processed hemp into parchment, that of which was used in many first drafts that later became the documents that America stands by. The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”, the Federalist (and Anti-Federalist) Papers, the Articles of Confederation, and of course the United States Constitution were all written on hemp paper.
George Washington not only grew hemp for clothes (home spun), he actually has a quote from his diary from August 7, 1765: "— began to separate the male from the female hemp at Do — rather too late." It is debatable, but today that technique is used solely for drug potency in marijuana. There are a few trace evidences to the idea that our founding fathers smoked hemp for pleasure, but it seems likely.
IDIOTS
Oh yes, I'd be thrilled to walk into a convenience store and watching people buy pot when getting milk for my kids. That would be lovely.
I'm hoping that there are enough people like me to make anything like legalizing EVERYWHERE difficult.
And if it is legalized, it should take some time with all the laws they'd have to add to the books. Where sold, who can buy (will there be an age in which we say "hey, it's fine. Go get high, smell bad, have glazed eyes, and do sub par work be it school or your job." Speaking of jobs, okay to toke up during the work day? What about driving? What is the legal limit or is it SOOOO safe that we don't need to worry about a legal limit?
tongue in cheek on the safe part because marijauna is not harmless. It is a dangerous drug when abused.
I hope I help my kids understand the dangers of using pot or any drug in a recreational fashion even if my government won't help me anymore.
I'm hoping that there are enough people like me to make anything like legalizing EVERYWHERE difficult.
And if it is legalized, it should take some time with all the laws they'd have to add to the books. Where sold, who can buy (will there be an age in which we say "hey, it's fine. Go get high, smell bad, have glazed eyes, and do sub par work be it school or your job." Speaking of jobs, okay to toke up during the work day? What about driving? What is the legal limit or is it SOOOO safe that we don't need to worry about a legal limit?
tongue in cheek on the safe part because marijauna is not harmless. It is a dangerous drug when abused.
I hope I help my kids understand the dangers of using pot or any drug in a recreational fashion even if my government won't help me anymore.
Legalize it EVERYWHERE....It's a excellent money maker for the government...Just look at cigarettes..Almost $10 a pack and they kill you eventually.....
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