The right question to ask is "why am I being put in jail?" -- there is no way to satisfactorily answer such a question in the case of nonviolent drug possession / use.

We don't put people in jail because they drink (impairs the mind). We don't put people in jail because they ski (can kill people instantly). Putting someone in jail is the worst thing a state does to an individual, and an answer of "because we're not sure what will happen if we don't" isn't appropriate.

Read Legalize This: The Case for Decriminalizing Drugs (Practical Ethics Series) by Doug Husak

https://www.amazon.com/Legalize-This-Decriminalizing-Practic...

A brilliant book - a careful philosophical argument for decriminalizing all drugs: Legalize This!: The Case for Decriminalizing Drugs (Practical Ethics Series) by Doug Husak

https://www.amazon.com/Legalize-This-Decriminalizing-Practic...

The gist: whenever someone is about to be put in jail for any reason, they ought to be given a reasonable answer to the question "Why am I being put in jail?" There simply is no satisfactory answer for current drug charges.

Bad answers to this question would require, out of consistency, criminalization of alcohol, tobacco, skiing (dangerous!), pizza (bad for your health!), etc.

A fantastic book on this (plus it's short): Legalize This!: The Case for Decriminalizing Drugs (Practical Ethics Series) by Doug Husak - a superbly-written argument for decriminalizing all drugs.

https://www.amazon.com/Legalize-This-Decriminalizing-Practic...