re: Atlanta decriminalizes marijuana

You guys are missing the real reason why marijuana is still criminalized.

It gives Law Enforcement something for these guys to plead down to. If you don't want to go to a jury trial, and the system couldn't possibly handle all the cases they would have if most cases had to go forward just on the grounds the suspect was arrested on.

Got an assault? You don't think you can get the witnesses to testify truthfully (or show up at all?.

Give 'em a deal to cop to possession and go to county for a few months.

Get a guy on a traffic stop? He's a bad, bad man, and up to no good? Kick the can down the road a while. Search his car. What are the odds you won't find weed - and that isn't some kind of "planting evidence" thing. You are just going to find weed. It would be surprising if you didn't.