Quote:
Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Are you saying that the majority of drug offenders in prison are there simply for possession/use? I suspect you're wrong, if you are. Rather, they're low level couriers and dealers.
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I looked around for some stats, but couldn't come up with anything; however, there were many articles and discussions regarding California prop 36 (passed in 2000) and the very large number of California inmates doing time "only" for possession of small amounts of drugs. The discussions around prop 36 may be informing Ty's views of who's going to jail for drug cirmes.
While it is undoubtedly true that a large number of inmates are doing time based on a conviction for mere drug possession, what they were convicted of does not answer the question of where they were in the distribution chain. If they're even part-time dealers or couriers (or living or traveling with someone who is), then it's not the same thing.
I would be surprised if there really a large number of pure consumers (those who do not manufacture, sell or otherwise provide drugs to others) who are convicted of felonies. Maybe that's because there aren't that the percentage of users who really fit that category is small, but I haven't heard anyone make that argument.
