Now I've lost some respect for your position because of how you framed this argument.
She wasn't simply in possession of the substance (she was selling it...on two separate occasions), which means she is most likely a regular dealer.
Did they put her in jail because they thought she was harming herself...no that isn't the reasoning.
Taking more of ones hard earned money is less freedom since money is equal to time...time you can't get back.
Yeah, that was a pretty lazy response on my part. Yes, she is selling small amounts of weed. Yes, that does make a difference as far as the law is concerned. It makes very little difference as far as I'm concerned. If she's anything like the small-time dealers I've known she is buying relatively small quantities, maybe a few pounds or as little as a quarter-pound (4oz) and selling it in 1oz to 1/8oz quantities to people she knows well. She is probably not covering the expense of what she uses herself. Hardly what I'd consider deserving of hard time.