ONE WAY TO SAVE

In a time of economic crisis, one way for Oklahoma to save money would
be to make the possession of small amounts of marijuana a citable
offense that doesn't require an arrest. Massachusetts and 11 other
states have already done this. The legislatures of Connecticut,
Hawaii, Texas, Vermont and Washington are considering similar
legislation.

The costs associated with incarcerating marijuana users are
significant. By the time a person is arrested, transported, booked,
jailed and made to appear in court, thousands of taxpayer dollars may
have already been spent. If an offender contests the charge or is
assigned a public defender, judicial expenditures can cause the price
tag to soar. A jury could be empanelled, and if a person is convicted
of or pleads guilty to a marijuana possession charge, a corresponding
probationary period follows, requiring even more state resources to be
spent on punishing the use of a substance that's less addictive and
toxic than alcohol.

Arresting people for possessing marijuana saddles them with a damaging
criminal record that can make it impossible for an otherwise law-
abiding citizen to obtain a student loan, housing or a job.

Nathan Miller, Washington, D.C.

Miller is a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy
Project.