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 drugsincluding marijuana, heroin and cocaineand 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 Drugsthe 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
LonePirate
(13,386 posts)I_UndergroundPanther
(12,450 posts)Treat addiction don't demonize addicts.
Find out the root cause of why they use.
Lonestarblue
(9,874 posts)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.
GB_RN
(2,267 posts)But I dont see it standing a snowballs chance in hell of passing in the Senate
hibbing
(10,076 posts)This will not go anywhere as is.
Peace
speak easy
(9,097 posts)This may be the point - an ambit claim.
hibbing
(10,076 posts)Learn something new every day!
Peace
GB_RN
(2,267 posts)With any of that.
bucolic_frolic
(42,654 posts)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.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)This is about reversing one part of the war on black and poor people.
Mr.Bill
(24,103 posts)are already using them anyway.
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.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Time to let the North win.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)JT45242
(2,173 posts)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)We need less drinkers, believe that!
mac2766
(658 posts)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)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)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)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)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)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)with a prescription.
I'm in total agreement with ending the war on drugs.