I've heard mention about how prisons have huge amount of stocks invested but if this is true, Why are some prisons closing down sections because of not enough money in their budget. or having the system try it's best to avoid prison time for individuals because of overpopulation in the prison system.
There is a private prison industry (whose companies' stocks are traded on Wall Street) and then there are State prison systems. Being the coffers are so empty at the State level, the state prisons are getting emptied out. Private prisons are notorious for taking in drug offenders as they are typically not as violent and require far fewer oversights and services than other more dangerous prisoners who need more "therapy/rehab" and mental care (thus, drug offenders are some of the most "profitable" of prisoners.) The state prisons, funded by your tax dollars, get the less profitable prisoners. Hooray!
And as a result, while the Private prisons are making more money to in the future, take "care" of more drug offenders... ...REAL societal offenders and wrong-doers are smelling some sweet sweet freedom because state prisons don't make enough money. Which shows something interesting about our society, crime really isn't that bad in the states if you take away drug related crimes. Another point is... that a lot of violent crimes are because of prohibition itself. However the realization of how safe we are would then make us less fearful of State Power itself, which is... bad So stop making drug use a criminal offense. Statistics show that drug use WILL NOT spike, but most likely fall. And, with the good green herb legal, which will probably be the exception because it would then be very common knowledge that marijuana is incredibly safe, and therefor use of pot probably would rise... well... Happy nation huh? Not so irate and trigger happy, as some would have you believe.