Pubdate: Fri, 02 May 2014
Source: Tennessean, The (Nashville, TN)
Copyright: 2014 The Tennessean
Contact: http://www.tennessean.com/SITES/OPINION/submit-editor.shtml
Website: http://www.tennessean.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447
Author: Paul Anderson

DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA MAKES SENSE

I recently had the privilege of being selected to serve on a jury. I
sat through a full morning with 50 other citizens before they were
seated on a jury or sent home. The judge thanked everyone and
apologized for the time it took, but he said the courts were backed
up.

The case was for simple possession of marijuana. The defendant was
cited nearly a year ago. Several months later, the case went before a
grand jury and it was determined there was enough evidence to go to
trial.

The penalty for simple possession is usually probation and a fine.
Hundreds of man-hours on a case where an individual was accused of
smoking marijuana in his car with his friends. All this taxpayer
expense and lost work hours during a time when our court system is so
backed up - does this make any sense to anyone?

Think about this next time someone talks about decriminalizing
marijuana possession.

Paul Anderson

Franklin 37069
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