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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.
No doubt the abuse of Rx drugs is a HUGE problem, but to me, it's apples and oranges.
They have started cracking down on Rx abuse...they have a long way to go, though. While I don't think pot is in the same category as coacaine, and heroin, and other more dangerous illicit drugs, I don't think it's harmless.
For many it IS a gateway drug. You could argue that alcohol is too, and I'd even agree to a point, but we're discussing marijuana, and for the vast majority of the country, it's still illegal.
I get the decriminalization issue, I do...but I don't think making it legal is the answer to that. Perhaps a reassessment of the laws?
They have started cracking down on Rx abuse...they have a long way to go, though. While I don't think pot is in the same category as coacaine, and heroin, and other more dangerous illicit drugs, I don't think it's harmless.
For many it IS a gateway drug. You could argue that alcohol is too, and I'd even agree to a point, but we're discussing marijuana, and for the vast majority of the country, it's still illegal.
I get the decriminalization issue, I do...but I don't think making it legal is the answer to that. Perhaps a reassessment of the laws?
http://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/parents_marijuana_brochure.pdf
I will be so upset if my children when teenagers turn to pot for their jollies. There are many problems associated with the abuse of marijauna and yes, other drugs are bad too, but pot has many issues associated with it when abused.
I would never condone usage of drugs or laws that make it easier.
I will be so upset if my children when teenagers turn to pot for their jollies. There are many problems associated with the abuse of marijauna and yes, other drugs are bad too, but pot has many issues associated with it when abused.
I would never condone usage of drugs or laws that make it easier.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
Marijuana is not harmless.
Marijuana is not harmless.
Honestly, we have more people dying from prescription drugs being administered by doctors and the like that smoking pot seems to be really over hyped these days. Prescribing meds for things like back pain that slow the central nervous system and then taking something else for another condition and a drink of alcohol is the latest big drug offense. I watched a program about this on television last night and they said the USA consumes 88 percent of the worlds narcotics. Now THAT is scary! And those are legal being handed out by doctors. Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, percocet and the like.
I just stumbled onto this fact concerning cost savings of legalizing pot:
The government would save an estimated $13.7 billion on prohibition enforcement costs and tax revenue by legalizing marijuana, according to a paper endorsed by 300 economists.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/federal-marijuana-legaliz_n_2131876.html?utm_hp_ref=campaign-to-regulate-marijuana-like-alcohol
The government would save an estimated $13.7 billion on prohibition enforcement costs and tax revenue by legalizing marijuana, according to a paper endorsed by 300 economists.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/federal-marijuana-legaliz_n_2131876.html?utm_hp_ref=campaign-to-regulate-marijuana-like-alcohol
I absolutely agree that the criminal justice system is not the place for young people experimenting with stimulants. A criminal record can absolutely destroy their lives and I also fully agree that it can pull them further into a less then desirable life style. It simply doesn't work.
I always come back to the answer lying in both education, and more opportunities for treatment. We need to help our young people make better choices. Educate them on the real dangers of using these types of products - alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc. And start young. We also need to teach parents how to better handle these issues - so many seem lost on how to work with their children. And empower parents to have more power to force their child into treatment if necessary.
OH, I also 100% agree with your statement that this is a health issue, not a legal one. We have already proven that strict laws doesn't help stop anything - we need another approach. And I still maintain that jailing a drug user of any age doesn't do a bit of good, and costs a fortune. It's just not the answer in my opinion.
I always come back to the answer lying in both education, and more opportunities for treatment. We need to help our young people make better choices. Educate them on the real dangers of using these types of products - alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc. And start young. We also need to teach parents how to better handle these issues - so many seem lost on how to work with their children. And empower parents to have more power to force their child into treatment if necessary.
OH, I also 100% agree with your statement that this is a health issue, not a legal one. We have already proven that strict laws doesn't help stop anything - we need another approach. And I still maintain that jailing a drug user of any age doesn't do a bit of good, and costs a fortune. It's just not the answer in my opinion.
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