[nine_k]

OK, we've caught the perpetrators, spent a lot of taxpayers' money on keeping them in prison, then pushed out, mostly unable to work (except low-paying jobs), almost inviting them to do some worse offense just to feed themselves.

How did all that help restore the ruined patch of land?

[kec]

Deterrent for others. Weed farming is lucrative, even large fines wouldn’t be a large deterrant.

[thomastjeffery]

Ruining a person's life is not a good deterrent.