Pot Criminalization: Up in Smoke?

[HairOfTheDog]

Californians voted to legalize recreational marijuana for adults last year. The new law took effect on November 9^th.

There are no recreational dispensaries licensed and running yet, but it's in the works. Good -- much better to have people self-medicating or just chilling using marijuana rather than pills or alcohol, in my opinion.

One of the best things about the new law is that hundreds of thousands of people in jail on marijuana charges have the opportunity to get their sentences ended or reduced. Those among them with felonies won't have the same ease of opportunity, which I think is good.

So many young people and poor people have been unable to find employment due to marijuana-related arrests. It is estimated that close to a million people have review-able convictions that could be reduced or overturned.

According to the California Judicial Council, at least 4,500 people have already filed petitions to have their sentences reduced or thrown out altogether.


http://www.abc10.com/news/local/californ.../350221123
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...z51esqPKyF