subcool
Well-Known Member
By Marijuana Polic... on May 26, 2009
By Bruce Mirken
For years prohibitionists, including our own Drug Enforcement Administration, have claimed falsely that the tolerant marijuana policies of the Netherlands have made that nation a nest of crime and drug abuse. They may have trouble wrapping their little brains around this:
The Dutch government is getting ready to close eight prisons because they dont have enough criminals to fill them. Officials attribute the shortage of prisoners to a declining crime rate.
Just for fun, lets compare the Netherlands to California. With a population of 16.6 million, the Dutch prison population is about 12,000. With its population of 36.7 million, California should have a bit more than double the Dutch prison population. Californias actual prison population is 171,000.
So, whose drug policies are keeping the streets safer?
By Bruce Mirken
For years prohibitionists, including our own Drug Enforcement Administration, have claimed falsely that the tolerant marijuana policies of the Netherlands have made that nation a nest of crime and drug abuse. They may have trouble wrapping their little brains around this:
The Dutch government is getting ready to close eight prisons because they dont have enough criminals to fill them. Officials attribute the shortage of prisoners to a declining crime rate.
Just for fun, lets compare the Netherlands to California. With a population of 16.6 million, the Dutch prison population is about 12,000. With its population of 36.7 million, California should have a bit more than double the Dutch prison population. Californias actual prison population is 171,000.
So, whose drug policies are keeping the streets safer?
