Conclusions and Reanalysis

Reasons for Cost

prosecutors, state forensics lab, judges, prison costs for overnight stay(s) at jail.
US spent a total of $74.3 Billion for all degrees of possesion.

The Trends

The values are inflation adjusted.

Similar trends seen in the Detroit Police Department (75% of Budget spent on fighting drug offenses; ranging in acts of possession to selling of the drug).

Massacchusetts' decriminalization has shown no change in marijuana usage. Many feared it would increase.

Decriminalization Effects Assessed

Back