No, they are just busting them down for other reasons. They still have to justify their numbers.
For the moment, this might be yes. However, as all this spending has occurred based upon false tax hopes, they will be raising other taxes to cover their new debt.
No. They were not imprisoning the stoners, simply fining them in most cases. The dealers, more likely part of the violent crowd, are now less likely to be jailed.
No. None of this returns any privacy.
I know, it's an early salvo though.
When we reduce their excuses for why they "have to" have such intrusive powers, perhaps then we can return to being secure against unreasonable searches and seizures in our persons, houses, papers, and effects.
Scaling down the WOD is a start. Flattening, or eliminating, income taxes is the big battle.