Some U.S. states are viewing the legalization of marijuana as a chance to gain new sources of tax revenue. Several states allow its use for medical reasons; Colorado has approved its recreational use, and Washington will follow suit this year.
But the decriminalization of pot also stands to remove a funding source for police: property forfeitures from drug dealers. Such funding is "going up in smoke," The Wall Street Journal reports.
Of the $6.5 billion in asset forfeitures in drug cases from 2002-2012, marijuana accounted for $1 billion, the Journal says, citing data from the U.S. Justice Department.
And while most cash generated from drug-related property forfeitures goes to the law enforcement agency that made the bust, tax money from legal marijuana sales goes to state and local governments. Police may get only a share of that money, or none at all.
In a graphic titled "Money Pot," the Journal lists the 10 states that had the highest amounts of asset forfeitures processed by the U.S. government in that 10-year period. Here's the list:
- California — $181.4 million
- New York — $101.3 million
- Florida — $80.5 million
- Texas — $64.3 million
- Ohio — $39.2 million
- Arizona — $36.8 million
- Michigan — $36 million
- North Carolina — $34.9 million
- Georgia — $26.2 million
- Wisconsin — $24.7 million
When compared with other drugs, marijuana offers a unique opportunity to police, The Journal's Zusha Elinson writes. Its distinct odor that aids detection is only part of the equation.
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.
