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Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(107,063 posts)
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 12:42 PM Jun 2021

Democrats Unveil Bill to Decriminalize Drug Possession at Federal Level, Expunge Records

Source: Newsweek

A bill to end criminal penalties for drug possession at the federal level was unveiled by Democrats on Tuesday, ahead of the 50th anniversary when President Richard Nixon declared the "war on drugs."

The Drug Policy Reform Act (DPRA) would decriminalize personal use possession of all scheduled drugs—including marijuana, heroin and cocaine—and automatically expunge records and provide for resentencing for those serving time for certain drug-related arrests. It would also prohibit the denial of employment, immigration status, public benefits, voting rights, and more based upon a criminal history for drug possession.

The legislation, proposed by Representatives Cori Bush of Missouri and Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, also calls for the country to address substance abuse with more health-centered approaches.

"The United States has not simply failed in how we carried out the War on Drugs—the War on Drugs stands as a stain on our national conscience since its very inception," Coleman said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-unveil-bill-to-decriminalize-drug-possession-at-federal-level-expunge-records/ar-AAL4mdK?li=BBnb7Kz

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Democrats Unveil Bill to Decriminalize Drug Possession at Federal Level, Expunge Records (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jun 2021 OP
This is long overdue. LonePirate Jun 2021 #1
Good. I_UndergroundPanther Jun 2021 #2
Amazing! I hope this passes. Lonestarblue Jun 2021 #3
Good Bill GB_RN Jun 2021 #4
Getting weed off schedule would be a start hibbing Jun 2021 #5
'This will not go anywhere as is.' speak easy Jun 2021 #7
Had to look that up hibbing Jun 2021 #10
No Arguments GB_RN Jun 2021 #15
I'm unconvinced this is the greatest of ideas bucolic_frolic Jun 2021 #6
DWI / DUI should remain illegal. lagomorph777 Jun 2021 #9
Most of the people who will use drugs Mr.Bill Jun 2021 #12
Agreed GB_RN Jun 2021 #14
So far, White Supremacy is winning this war. lagomorph777 Jun 2021 #8
Hoping fed student aid is included SheltieLover Jun 2021 #11
Better to get a bill that might pass -- JT45242 Jun 2021 #13
Tax booze to pay, not weed, it's already super expensive enough! Brainfodder Jun 2021 #18
Sin taxes.... NO mac2766 Jun 2021 #22
YES!! The first step to ending the drug war Warpy Jun 2021 #16
Then You Better Be Giving Them Free Drugs DanieRains Jun 2021 #17
I think that this is one of the few areas where we might actually see some bipartisanship. totodeinhere Jun 2021 #19
Not sure how I feel about the inclusion of heroin Amishman Jun 2021 #20
I personally know two productive members of society OriginalGeek Jun 2021 #21
Very powerful drugs are legal.... mac2766 Jun 2021 #23

Lonestarblue

(9,874 posts)
3. Amazing! I hope this passes.
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 01:22 PM
Jun 2021

Of course, few if any Republicans will vote for this because they rely on drug possession to lock up minorities and keep them from voting. The only thing the War on Drugs accomplished was to make Mexican and other drug cartels fabulously wealthy and increase the level of violence around drug use. First, big pharma is allowed to push legal drugs to get people hooked, then the illegal drug dealers take over to finish their lives. I hope legislators will see this as the health issue it is rather than the moral failures of addicts.

bucolic_frolic

(42,654 posts)
6. I'm unconvinced this is the greatest of ideas
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 02:32 PM
Jun 2021

Permissiveness with guns is working so well. Drivers, partiers, Saturday night clubbers, and household members will be smoking and snorting. How many will be able to handle it? Driving, operating machinery, going to work, making decisions, parenting. This is not to deny the failures of the past, just to say I have doubts this solution will be nirvana. It will also have problems.

GB_RN

(2,267 posts)
14. Agreed
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 03:29 PM
Jun 2021

I don't think there are many people who would just go out and try coke, heroin or whatever, just because it suddenly became decriminalized at the federal level. And most (read: Red) states would probably keep those illegal for simple possession because, reasons.

Health classes (those that are still taught), will still teach the ill effects of those drugs, too.

JT45242

(2,173 posts)
13. Better to get a bill that might pass --
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 03:26 PM
Jun 2021

I can't see any way that possession of cocaine and heroin being decriminalized will pass.

Decriminalize weed.

Allow people who have finished sentence to vote

Make DUI/DWI to include substances -- anyone can smoke weed, just don't put other people at risk with slowed reaction time. Sister was hit by a drunk driver (11th DUI) and has never been the same. There are too many stories of innocent folks hit by people under influence of drugs/alcohol driving.

Added money for rehab in general -- and better rehab support in prisons

Oh, and tax weed to pay for the rehab services for all drugs above.

Those could probably get widespread support.

Brainfodder

(6,423 posts)
18. Tax booze to pay, not weed, it's already super expensive enough!
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 04:01 PM
Jun 2021


We need less drinkers, believe that!

 

mac2766

(658 posts)
22. Sin taxes.... NO
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 05:29 PM
Jun 2021

Just another set of taxes on the poor.

Demonize alcohol and cigarettes, then tax the hell out of them for the profit of government - without representation.

I use smokeless tobacco and I drink beer. I don't drink heavily, but I do drink beer. I'm taxed for both. As well, I pay property taxes while not having any children. I'm sick of being taxed in this way.

Warpy

(110,900 posts)
16. YES!! The first step to ending the drug war
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 03:37 PM
Jun 2021

is a bill like this that doesn't do much except get the cops off the backs of people who are already in trouble. If it makes it out of committee and into full debate, that's great, it will get a lot of people thinking rather than jerking their knees.

It has no hope of passing the Senate. This is the first gesture toward righting a serious wrong and we need it desperately.

 

DanieRains

(4,619 posts)
17. Then You Better Be Giving Them Free Drugs
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 03:43 PM
Jun 2021

So they don't have to steal from me over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and more and even more to buy their drugs.

I'm ok with decriminalizing drugs. When they get caught doing crime to support their habit they need locked up.

Sorry.

Permanent crime victim here.

Try owning a store folks.

You would think like me.

Half your profits go into someone'e vein....

totodeinhere

(13,034 posts)
19. I think that this is one of the few areas where we might actually see some bipartisanship.
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 04:24 PM
Jun 2021

There is strong support for more lenient drug laws among Republicans with libertarian leanings. And Moscow Mitch knows this. This could be the bone they try to throw to us.

Amishman

(5,538 posts)
20. Not sure how I feel about the inclusion of heroin
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 04:31 PM
Jun 2021

Every person I know who has used heroin has become addicted and had their lives ruined by it, and none of them have kicked the habit either. Maybe there is a bit of a confirmation bias there, perhaps I only hear about the ones who can't control it, but it sure seems like a terrifyingly addictive substance. I'm reluctant to accept anything that moves even a baby step towards its public acceptance.

Cocaine seems milder in comparison, and just legalize weed already.

OriginalGeek

(12,132 posts)
21. I personally know two productive members of society
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 05:11 PM
Jun 2021

that have kicked heroin.

Yes it is powerfully addictive and they needed lots of professional help but they got it and are clean going on 24 years now.

We need to help people but people generally will not get help if they fear prison.

Nobody is saying publicly accept heroin. They are saying stop treating users as criminals and treat them as patients who need medical and psychological help.

Legalize weed, decriminalize possession for everything else.

 

mac2766

(658 posts)
23. Very powerful drugs are legal....
Tue Jun 15, 2021, 05:31 PM
Jun 2021

with a prescription.

I'm in total agreement with ending the war on drugs.

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