As I was walking down main street (really) yesterday doing errands,
I had an idea of where to cut ~$227 million dollars in state spending without slashing any programs of consequence.
Step inside and I will tell you the idea.
Here is the idea:
Right now today Governor Schwarzenegger commutes the sentence of ever nonviolent California prisoner doing time for marijuana related offenses.
I am talking commutation not pardoning, so any further misadventures by the released prisoners will have significant consequence. This is not a get out of jail free card.
The cost per prisoner in California is ~ $50,000 per year.
There are about ~ 1500 prisoners
Savings per year ~ $75,000,000
Suspend arrests and prosecutions ~$100,000,000 per year
Suspend eradication efforts ~$52,000,000 per year*
* 5.2 million plants at $10 per plant (my estimate)
Total annual savings ~$227,000,000
Now I know there will be those that jump in and say just legalize it.
I agree, but lets stay focused, the California economy is in crisis and we can't even get a budget done. Lets take the savings from doing the above and talk about legalization another day.
Down side: We will have 1500 more underemployed Californians, but at $50,000 a head to keep them in prison, any way you cut it we come out ahead.
I have included the pertinent facts from NORML's fact sheet below for those who want to play with the numbers. * I take issue with the value of the crop. Using these numbers Marijuana costs $862/ounce Which is ~ 3X the current street price (so I am told).
Update
N.B. It is common practice in the emerald triangle for local law enforcement to bust, book, and destroy the crop of a local grower, then send them home. The alleged crime doesn't go to trial, it just hangs around in limbo as an incentive to good behavior on the part of the grower. Mexican Drug Cartel growers usually don't get the same treatment, and I am good with that.
What do you think?
NORML's Fact Sheet:
Marijuana in California
Number of marijuana users in California
3 million in the past year, including:
2 million in the past month, including:
500,000 – 600,000 daily users
Estimated California consumption
1 million pounds per year
Inmates in state prison for marijuana felonies
1,511 prisoners
Number of marijuana arrests, 2007
16,123 Felonies (sale & manufacture)
57,995 Misdemanors (possession)
Total marijuana arrests since 1970
2.25 million
Number of marijuana plants eradicated, 2008
5.2 million
Estimated value of California's marijuana crop
$13.8 billion.
CA per prisoner 2009 $50,000
Number of prisoners 1500
Savings by commuting prisoners sentences $75,000,000.00
Saving from stopping arrests and prosecutions $100,000,000.00