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Drugs - Marijuana Dangers

The Dangers of Marijuana
Protecting The Public Through Law Enforcement

It's Illegal
Marijuana is illegal because it is dangerous to individual users and society as a whole. As a Schedule I drug, it has the highest potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and unpredictable effects - including severe psychological and physical dependence.(2)

Juvenile Crime And Violence
 Young people under the influence of marijuana are a threat to the public safety because they commit more crimes than non-users. Adolescent users are three or more times as likely as non-users to commit the following crimes: theft, vandalism, driving under the influence, sale of illegal drugs, and battery.1 A recent federal study showed that teens who use marijuana weekly were nearly 4 times as likely as non-users to physically attack people.(1)

Sentencing
 Only 10% of those arrested for drug crimes, including both possession and trafficking, go to prison. Of those arrested and convicted for drug possession, only 1/3 serve prison time. Of this small percentage who do go to jail, the average time served for drugs is 6 - 9 months, the same as the average time served for drunk driving.(6)

Convictions
In Illinois, possession of smaller amounts of marijuana for personal use is generally a misdemeanor for which prison time is not a sentencing option.(7) Only 0.4% of state prisoners are incarcerated for marijuana possession. One-half of one percent of felony convictions are for marijuana possession, and two percent of felony convictions are for marijuana trafficking.6 An average federal trafficking conviction involved 3.5 tons of marijuana.(6)

Mandatory Minimums
 Mandatory minimum terms were enacted, in the 1980's, as a result of public concern and demand for tougher consequences for drug offenders. Mandatory minimums have not resulted in an increase in minor drug offenders serving time in prison. In the federal system since 1988, the time served for drug possession declined 20%, while the time for trafficking increased.(6)

Use By Criminals
 Marijuana use is directly related to other crimes. In 1998, the following findings were made for Chicago, Illinois (8):

  • 39.5% of males arrested for violent offenses (including robbery, assault and weapons charges) tested positive for marijuana use. This number was 14.7% for females. Of males arrested for robbery, 52.6% tested positive for marijuana use, while 51.9% of males arrested for assault.
  • 36.6% of males arrested for property offenses (including larceny/theft, burglary, and stolen vehicles) tested positive for marijuana use. This number was 11.5% for females. Of males arrested for burglary, 45.9% tested positive for marijuana use.
  • 50.4% of males arrested for drug offenses (including drug sales and possession) tested positive for marijuana use. This number was 20.4% for females. Of males arrested for drug sales, 66.7% tested positive for marijuana use.

Prison Overcrowding
Violent/repeat offenders make up 93% of the prison population and violent criminals lead prison growth numbers. In the U.S., only 104 of every 1000 people arrested for drugs are incarcerated.(6)

Driving Under The Influence
The THC (psychoactive ingredient) in marijuana impairs driving, alters perception and decreases coordination. Its effects are dose-related and persist unabated or even increase during 2 and a half hours after inhaling or ingesting.(3) One study showed that 33% of motorists stopped for reckless driving tested positive for marijuana.(4) A study of truck drivers involved in fatal accidents found 12.8% with marijuana in their systems.(5)

References

  1. SAMHSA. "Teen marijuana users report psychosocial problems." SAMHSA News. pp. 2-4. Summer, 1998.
  2. U.S. Dept of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency. "Speaking Out Against Legalization." As cited at: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/legaliz/claim05.htm.
  3. U.S. Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Marijuana, Alcohol and Actual Performance. July 1999.
  4. Brookoff, et al. "Testing reckless drivers for cocaine and marijuana." New England Journal of Medicine. pp. 518-522. Aug. 25, 1994.
  5. Crouch, et al. Journal of Forensic Science. 38:1342-1353. 1993.
  6. R. E. Peterson. Drug Enforcement Works. 1997.
  7. Temple of the Screaming Electron. "Laws on Pot from State to State." As cited at: http://www.totse.com/en/drugs/legal_issues_of_drug_use/potstate.html.
  8. Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program, National Institute of Justice. 1998 Annual Report on Drug Use Among Adult and Juvenile Arrestees. p. 26. April 1999.

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