How to deal with the terrible drug problem in California? Some believe drug treatment should replace jail time for many drug offenders, saving the State millions in prison costs. Proposition 5 on the November ballot would eliminate prison time for some offenders and reduce time behind bars for drug dealers from 3 years to 6 months.schienle-prop5.jpgProp

Those who support the measure say it will offer treatment to non-violent drug offenders, not incarceration. Those opposed say Prop. 5 would cost millions a year for re-hab, and would allow criminals to get out of jail.

Mammoth Police Chief Randy Schienle is one who opposes Prop. 5. He said that to a large extent the law has already "de-criminalized" marijuana and under Prop. 5 hard drugs would fall in the same status. "Now, we arrest people for hard drug use – cocaine, meth – and people get as many as 6 violations before they go to jail."


Some call Proposition 5 "the drug dealers bill of rights", others claim the Proposition will save millions in prison costs and help people.

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