A Missouri man received a life sentence for possessing marijuana . Instead of taxpayers spending millions of dollars on this unnecessary enforcement and keeping folks like Mizanskey in prison for the rest of their lives , states could follow Colorado and Washington by taxing and regulating marijuana and investing saved enforcement dollars in education , substance abuse treatment , and prevention and other health care . Vanita Gupta : The country has spent decades ratcheting up penalty for minor crimes . She says states must change sentencing laws so punishment fits the crime .
A Missouri man received a life sentence for possessing marijuana . Vanita Gupta : The country has spent decades ratcheting up penalty for minor crimes . She says states must change sentencing laws so punishment fits the crime .