Quote:Privatized prisons are also a necessity because of budgetary constraints that are being put on the states.  These private companies can do it more cheaply and efficiently than the state or federal government can. 

 

You're right that they need those prisons to be full.

 

True enough, but the prisons aren't full because of convictions involving weed. The true growth in prison populations for drug convictions have to do with the explosion of cocaine usage in the seventies and eighties.

 

Which is where you get the arguments regarding different sentencing rates etc. for powder cocaine v. crack.

 

"Standard" weed prosecutions have practically become a civil fine - unless you have a garage full. 

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