Marijuana is the recreational drug of choice for millions of middle class Americans. Government's surveys indicate more than 70 millions Americans have smoked Marijuana at some point in their lives. Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug of choice for Americans, exceeded only by alcohol and tobacco in popularity.3 .
Types of Drugs Used by Past Month Illicit Drug Users Aged 12 or Older: 2002.
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Marijuana penalties vary nation wide. In 42 states, possession of any amount of marijuana is punishable by incarceration and/or significant fine. Many states also have laws automatically suspending the driver's license of an individual if they are convicted of any marijuana offense, even if the offense was not driving related. Penalties for marijuana cultivation and/or sale also vary from state to sate. Ten states have maximum sentences of five years or less and eleven states have a .
maximum penalty of thirty years or more 4. Some states punish those who cultivate marijuana solely for personal use as severely as large scale traffickers. For instance, medical marijuana user William Foster of Oklahoma was sentenced to 93 years in jail in January 1997 for growing 10 marijuana plants and 56 clones. Foster maintains that he grew to alleviate the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. Foster's plight is not an isolated event; marijuana laws in six states permit marijuana importers and traffickers to be sentenced to life in jail 3. .
Federal laws prohibiting marijuana are also severe. Under federal law, possessing one marijuana cigarette or less is punishable by a fine up to $10,000 and one year in prison, the same penalty as for possessing small amounts of heroin and cocaine. Cultivation of 100 marijuana plants or more carries a mandatory prison term of five years. Large scale marijuana cultivators and traffickers may be sentenced to death.3.
Federal laws also deny entitlements to marijuana smokers.