Des Moines Register: “In decades as an Iowa warden, I learned how mandatory sentences, ill-considered programs and more keep inmates and prisons from success”

Writes former prison warden John Mathes in today’s Des Moines Register:

“My recommendation is to decriminalize simple possession of marijuana and implement a system of regulating, licensing, and taxing this like we do for alcohol.”

Read the full article here in today’s Des Moines Register (Monday, August 17th, 2020). It has 8 policy proposals or changes, all based on the idea that we should stop being mad at people for drug use and instead of punishing them from anger, work with them. Which is what I’ve been saying for twelve fucking years.

John Mathes of Waukee is Warden former at the Newton Correctional Facility, Iowa State Penitentiary and Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility.