Myth:
We have only six people behind bars for marijuana use in Oregon.
Reality:
That’s off by a factor of 29. According to the the Oregon Department of Corrections, the number of people behind bars for marijuana as of this writing is 174. This number only applies to people in state prison, not people in federal prison or county jail.
The Department of Corrections does not specifically provide data online about the number of people behind bars for marijuana. We got this information in response to a records request to the Oregon Department of Corrections.
Locking a person up behind bars in Oregon costs taxpayers about $30,000 a year. Lots of people are behind bars for marijuana use in Oregon, and it’s a waste of our money. Learn about the initiative to legalize and regulate to save taxpayer money.