When pot is legalized within the next few years, what happens to everyone in prison on possession charges?

Sara R

They'll stay right where they are. Letting them out would be in violation of the constitution. We have a protection against something called Ex Post Facto. It means you can't be charged for something if you've done it before, and they've just now made a law for it.

Example: You are talking on your cellphone while driving on Tuesday. On Wednesday Congress passes a national law that says you may not talk on your cell phone while driving. Because of Ex Post Facto you are protected from cops coming and taking you away because you did it BEFORE it was against the law.

Likewise, if you've done something BEFORE it became legal, you will still serve your time because you did it when it was illegal.

SPEEDY

i think they will still be in prison because they were caught at the time when it was illegal

Shyam K

Your hopes are high, The day will never come in this lifetime of anyone when cannabis will be made legal and freely available, esp worldover.
Barring our good dutch friends i.e

booper563

I'd imagine they'd stay there when they had it it was illegal.

Gooch

pot isnt gonna be legalized or at least not all at once, it would start slow state by state but there will still be restrictions like requiring a license or being taxed on the pot you sell, otherwise the economy would go to ****.
btw the prisoners would probably still be in prison since it was illegal at the time.

All hat

When you commit a crime you do two things - point a gun or swing a hammer or smoke a doobie, whatever, but the other thing you do is commit a crime That's a big upraised middle finger to your country and your country doesn't appreciate it.

Personally I think speed limits are stupid, heavy-handed and they waste my time - sometimes they waste it a LOT. And I know damn well I can drive half again the legal speed limit all day long on a clear, dry road. But - since it's the law of the land ...

I mean cause, otherwise it's "who do you think you are"? This guy Madoff felt himself to be above the law -

So if you're in jail for breaking the law, then - you're in jail for breaking the law - then, when you were convicted of it. Do we let rapists off the hook when the 8 year old girl they raped reaches her age of consent?

Johnny Depp

pot wont be legalized because the majority of voters in the us or canada will never vote to legalize pot i mean i used to blaze but iv quit since 5 months ago because it fuked up my mind and gave me harsh anxiety but ya if everyone started smoking pot the economy would go down because people wud only be motivated to blaze not to become CEOs or study for 8 years to become doctors theyd rather just blaze and therd be less people joining the army so generally america would get weaker if the law was passed but than again they would make billions more on its taxes and maybe they cud buy new stuff like better schools and hospitals and new buildings so who knows but id say its a better bet that the economy would go down but who knows but the government will always assume the worst when it comes to legalizing recreational drugs

Voice of Non-Stoners

What makes you think pot will be legalized? As long as those who don't smoke it exist, it will never be legal. And everyone in prison on pot charges deserves to be there because they are a threat to everyone that doesn't smoke.

Royce

Ive always wondered the same thing. They will be like this probably... Oh well I'm sorry sir, we have messed up! We didnt mean to lock you up for 5 years! Weed is legal now, your good to go!

The system I tell ya... its all just a joke lol

Aztec Knight

They still do their time

Chick-A- Deedle

I hope they let them all out. It costs too much in taxes to maintain them while incarcerated and locking people up for weed is just bunk.

Krissy S

i slept in every dope spot in my villa all my life i wanted to be a coke deala

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