"According to the newly released Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Report for 2008 every 18 seconds someone is arrested and charged with violating drug laws.

Another striking figure in the report: of the 1,702,537 drug arrests in 2008, 82.3 percent were for simple possession of a contraband substance. Nearly half, 44 percent, were for possession of marijuana.

So there were 749,116 arrests for possession of a soporific (sure do wish the the teabaggers,etc. would partake of a soporific instead of the meth they are apparently on) that no one has died from or killed someone while under the influence of.

Yet the madness continues. (Appreciate your leadership on this Obama, you are helping all of us realize that there is a new definition of the word ‘change’)

"“Those looking for a partisan pattern should note that drug arrests climbed under Bill Clinton as well as George W. Bush, and that last year’s drop occurred during the latter’s second term,” wrote Jacob Sullum at Reason.com. “Since local police make the vast majority of drug arrests (especially pot busts), it’s not clear how much difference the president’s drug policy agenda makes, although federal priorities affect the behavior of state and local law enforcement agencies, especially when funding is attached to them.”

"“Present enforcement policies are costing American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars, ruining the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans, and having no impact on marijuana availability or marijuana use in this country. It is time to end this failed policy and replace prohibition with a policy of marijuana regulation, taxation, and education.” ; Yup.

From here