Jacksonville's High on Marijuana Drug Arrests
In Jacksonville, Florida, police are losing the "war" on drugs. According to the FBI, in 2007, almost 2 million people were arrested on drug charges. Marijuana was the cause of almost 1 million of those arrests. Of those nearly 1 million arrested for marijuana related offenses, 89% were arrested for mere possession of marijuana.
Marijuana charges can result in drivers license revocation, job loss, professional licensing revocations, governmental aid revocations and more. Additionally, an arrest requires a defense in court. In the United States, the government has spent billions on the war on drugs which has created the additional expense of prosecuting all of the increased arrests. According to the FBI, 20% of the inmates in State prisons are there for drug related offenses. In 2008, Jacksonville has seen a dramatic increase in drug related arrests due to the increase of law enforcement in high drug areas. The drugs business is a big business for all involved including the government. In 2008, First Coast News 12 reported that a local man entered a McDonald's and attempted to pay for his meal with marijuana! The McDonald's employee called 911 and the man was arrested and in need of a good defense.
Michael A. Atter
Former Prosecutor
Keith L. Maynard
Former Assistant Public Defender
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