For me the legalization of marijuana is something that hits close to home.  Last year I was arrested and incarcerated for 3 months for selling 1.5 grams (equivalent of 3 paper clips) of marijuana to an informant, who turned out to my old roommate in college.  I wasn't a dealer, I was just a modest user.  One day I received a call from this friend and I helped him out by giving him the rest of what I had.  No big deal right.  Wrong.  Two months later, the police came to where I worked and arrested me.  Obviously I lost my job and respect from my friends and family... being outcast as a drug dealer.  I went through the court process and spent 3 months in jail.  Now lets look at how much time, effort and money was spent to "bring me to justice."  There was 6 officers/detectives that came to arrest me, only after they visited three different houses looking for me.  They were dressed in SWAT gear and had pistols in their hand at each location (officer wage, time to get warrant, gas = $1000).  Then I went to court 10 different times during the whole process, about 45 minutes each time.  The DA had to build a case against me in order to convict (DA time, Judge's wage, other court employees wage = $9000) Then I was incarcerated 90 days (3 months in jail is the equivalent of $5000 with food, water and electricity and that doesn't include the wage of the guards that had to watch me or the wasted bed space for someone of a more serious crime).  Altogether the cost of what I sold was $20.  The cost to "bring me to justice"... $15,000 (rough estimate of course).  Is this where you want your taxpayer money going?