The End of Non-Violent Felons

As States move to legalize marijuana many criminals charged with assault, burglary, theft, drug dealing and other related crimes will be faced with the prospect of facing their charge and unable to plead down to a non-violent offense like drug possession. This has always been an easy out for criminals charged with violent crimes, and prosecutors looking for wins rather than protecting the public. Up to now those charged with violent crimes have always been able to plead down to marijuana or drug possession and earn the title non-violent offender, which reduces their sentence and increases their  chances of early parole. It is this sentencing model that gives rise to the idea of our prisons being filled with “non-violent drug offenders” when in fact they have pleaded down from more serious crimes like assault, burglary, theft, high-level dealing, robbery and even attempted murder. So despite the inherent danger in legalizing marijuana, it may in fact dispel the “non-violent” offender myth and result in more convictions with longer sentences for convicted felons.