Marijuana Decriminalization: A Long, Sordid History

For decades in the United States, marijuana possession has been treated as a criminal offence, contributing to the country’s world-leading incarceration rate, and foisting unfair hardships on families of the accused as well as society at large. All too often, the punishment doesn’t match the crime, since possession of only a few grams can lead to criminal charges, hefty fines and on occasion lengthy prison sentences.  However, the legal climate in the United States is changing, slowly but surely. States and cities continue to pass marijuana decriminalization laws. While it’s only the first step, decriminalizing . . .