According to the comprehensive Life Sentences: The Collateral Sanctions
Associated with Marijuana Offenses released Monday by the Center for
Cognitive Liberty and Ethics:

In most cases, a felony marijuana conviction (for example growing
marijuana) triggers the same collateral sanctions as those triggered by
a conviction for murder, rape, or kidnapping. In many cases, the
collateral sanctions for a marijuana-related conviction actually exceed
those for a violent crime.

Collateral sanctions triggered by a marijuana conviction can
include: revocation or suspension of professional licenses, barriers to
employment or promotion, loss of educational aid, driveršs license
suspension, and bars on adoption, voting and jury service. For people
who depend upon public assistance, a marijuana conviction can trigger a
bar on receiving food stamps and restrict access to public housing. In
some states, these sanctions continue for life. ...

In 47 states, a conviction for growing marijuana (or any other
marijuana-related felony) results in at least some period of time during
which the person is barred from voting. In 6 of these states, the bar on
voting lasts for life.

Some 45,000 of the three-quarter-million Americans arrested for
marijuana offenses each year are convicted of felonies that can trigger
these collateral sanctions.

Are there any but a handful of true believers in reefer madness who
don't realize how disastrous a toll the War on (some) Drugs has taken on
America and Americans? So why is there only a handful of high-level
elected officials willing to do something about it?
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