Putting addicts in prison for pot is senseless

Capital Times ^ | 3018-07 | Brad Westerwelle

[SJackson]

Brad Westerwelle: Putting addicts in prison for pot is senseless

A letter to the editor

Dear Editor:

In May 2005 I was found in possession of two bags of marijuana totaling nine grams, and am now labeled as a drug dealer and given a sentence of 48 months probation that includes two years in prison if the probation is revoked.

I have spent most of the last year and a half in and out of jail for dirty urinalysis tests because I have a drug addiction. Now I'm facing revocation for smoking marijuana. They say I'm a danger to society when in truth the only thing in any danger is a bag of Doritos.

I feel that probation and parole - even the justice system - have failed. They want to send a taxpayer who also pays child support to prison for smoking a natural plant. They say I've had my chance at drug treatment but are quick to say I can enter a program in prison. I've already served about 16 months in jail of my two years and have only eight to nine months left to do in prison if revoked. With overcrowding the waiting list for a program is over one year in most prisons, so all I can do is take up bed space. If this is what this country is coming to, then I feel sorry for the next generation of Americans.

I hope you print these words I've written so the bigwigs on Capitol Hill see that Wisconsin has become a "people farm" for potheads and addicts.

I was brought up to believe prisons were for violent criminals, not for people who have drug addictions. I also hope to open the eyes of the public where tax dollars are being spent in the system. Instead of more jails and prisons, how about more drug treatment programs for the people who need it?

Brad Westerwelle Sauk County

Published: March 16, 2007

[robertpaulsen]

"Putting someone in jail for 9 grams of pot is about as big a waste of jail space as it get."

They didn't put him in jail. They gave him 4 years probation and told him to stay away from drugs.

He chose to continue doing drugs. He violated his part of the agreement.

[microgood]

Prisons are for people who get convicted of violating the law. Drug possession and usage is against the law.

Someday guns will be outlawed using the some of the same reasoning that was used to outlaw pot.

Will you obey that law?

[Nate505]

According to him, he already served 16 months of his sentence in jail.

Once again, the biggest waste of jail space ever. Believe it or not, jail space is not an infinite resource.

[cherry]

I am shocked that anyone would say that marijuana is addictive.....that can't be because the libertarians say that marijuana is safe, and better than alcohol...

I agree that I am sick of non-violent drug abusers and similar criminals tying up our prisons...our prisons belong to the rapists, the molesters, the child kidnappers and the murderers....

prison is not for simple drug offenses, hanging a rope in a tree, burnig a cross on a lawn, kicking a dog, stealing candy from a store, shouting racial insults, or taking extra newspapers from the stands.....feel free to add to the list..