If marijuana is legalized, should we let out those who were arrested for possession? (illegal, crime)

[70Ford]

That would seem weirdly fair.

[MissTerri]

Absolutely. Yes.

[Pinkmani]

Nope, because they did it when it was illegal.

Just like they can't come after you if you did something when it was legal (ex post facto)

For example, if I didn't wear my seatbelt and wearing one wasn't a law, but it became a law the next day, I couldn't get in trouble for it because the "crime" was committed before it was against the law.

For example, if you go and sing 'God Bless America' offkey at the US capitol, they can't then pass a law banning people from doing that and then arresting you for it.

[Lunar Delta]

Of course they should. It was immoral for them to ever be imprisoned in the first place.

[greywar]

Gah....two opinions both saying the opposite thing, that I completely agree with.

no-they commited a crime knowingly
yes-its legal now

Im going to compromise and say:

Yes let them out, but they're stuck with the crime on their record.

[StillwaterTownie]

Of course, since I don't want to pay any more through my tax dollars for their free room and board. I never get my meals handed to me. Why should they?

[Ceece]

Obviously yes.

[Goinback2011]

Virtually no one is in prison for 'possession'.

It's an urban myth.

[StillwaterTownie]

So then selling marijuana shouldn't be worth a prison term any more than a liquor store clerk selling alcohol to an alcoholic.

[Old Gringo]

Yup!

And they should be paid some kind of compensation for their bogus incarceration.