SB1401
Possession of less than 28.5 g of marijuana is already a misdemeanor in CA, so the idea that prisons are filled with guys who were just in possession of personal consumption amounts is a myth. Even possession of hash is nearly always punished with a fine instead of jail time.
OK, assume they are all drug dealers. Let them out anyway. How many liquor store owners commit violent crime? The problem isn’t drug dealing. The problem is drug prohibition. End the prohibition and the insane profits go away. End the insane profits and the violence goes away. You can still put people in jail for driving while stoned. You can still let employers screen employees for pot use. You can still have smoke free public spaces and restaurants. But you would lose the violence, the enforcement expense, and the hassle of having to put up with militarized police, tax collectors, and customs agents.