Bill Introduced to End Mandatory Minimums in All Drug Cases

[kpete]

Source: Talk Left

Bill Introduced to End Mandatory Minimums in All Drug Cases
By Jeralyn, Section Legislation
Posted on Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 05:16:57 PM EST

Via FAMM, Rep. Maxine Waters has introduced a bill to end mandatory minimum sentencing in all drug cases. The bill has 15 co-sponsors.

H.R. 1466, the Major Drug Trafficking Prosecution Act of 2009, seeks to repeal mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenders and to give courts the ability to determine sentences based on all the facts, not just drug weight. It would also refocus federal resources on major drug traffickers instead of low-level offenders. There is currently no companion bill in the Senate.

The full text of the bill is here. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-1466
We need a Senator to step up to the plate. Ideas?

Read more: http://www.talkleft.com/story/2009/3/18/181657/222

[Winterblues]

1. Almost as many co-sponsors as the Articles of Impeachment

that never made it anywhere.

[Tiberius]

3. Someday.

Someday we'll come to our senses, and free ourselves from the grip of the prison-industrial complex.

These mandatory minimum laws are so ridiculous. Here's what I propose: every time they lock up some marijuana dealer because they were within such and such feet of a school, or had a certain quantity, I want them to call a rape victim into the courtroom. Or an assault victim. Or a robbery victim.

And tell them that the person who committed the crime against them has to be released, to make room for the non-violent drug offender. Because that is LITERALLY what is happening in our society.

I don't care how much weed you have, it could be a ton, but you should never serve more time than someone who committed a violent crime...

[cabluedem]

19. I'll second that notion. Also why are prison guards making more $ then police

some of those prison pricks are making over 100k per year.

[AlexDeLarge]

41. Don't forget

the pharmaceutical-industrial complex. And the banking-industrial complex. And the GOP-industrial complex (including Big Business and Right-Wing Media). And, of course, the ever-popular, infamous military-industrial complex.

[loudsue]

2. Go MAXINE!!!! This needs to happen NOW.....

YAY!!! :applause:

[Optical.Catalyst]

35. It needed to happen Yesterday. n/t

[ms liberty]

4. Bernie Sanders, Barbara Boxer, John Kerry, Teddy Kennedy...not in any particular order...n/t

[psychmommy]

5. go maxine! mandatory minimums are bad.

i think i am almost ready to be proud of my country. come on senators step up to the plate.

[Gregorian]

6. Years of repression finally coming to an end.

Thank god.

[Maat]

7. Yahoo!

Each situation should be weighed independently. Did I just say that JUDGMENT should be involved? YES, I certainly DID!

[Amonester]

8. Wanna end the obscene profiteers' depression?

Make cannabis legal and tax the sh*t out of the then legal consumers.

End that useless (and costly) prohibition. - eom

[truthisfreedom]

9. They could tax the royal crap out of it and it would still be cheaper than it is now.

Christ, what is it, like $50-60 an eighth ounce? It would cost nothing to grow, and could easily sell for $10 an eighth plus $30 tax.

[AlbertCat]

14. Yes, cocaine is cheaper than some grass.

It depends on where you are and what you get. Chronic can be like $500 an oz. But rag weed runs $130-$150 an oz.

When I was in high school ('71-'75) it was like $15 a "lid" No one weighed anything.

Then they broke the Mexican Connection (supposedly) and it went up to $35 -$45/ oz.

Then they broke the Columbian Connection (supposedly) and it when up to like $80/oz. And it just keeps going up from there.

Or so I'm told! I really wouldn't know. O8)

[Betsy Ross]

16. $10 lid in a Prince Albert can when I started. n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

18. Jeez, you're old!

I remember the Prince Albert can measure. And "Top" rolling machines. If you were stoned enough, it always seemed hilariously funny that the inside of the metal lid of the Top roller had the word "POT" with a backwards "P."

[reggie the dog]

32. in Chicago

kind buds are 500 an ounce or 60 an eighth. Cocaine, even shitty coke, is around 100 an eighth and rocket fuel is 200. I know because I have buddies that are into that. The weed I know first hand, rag weed in chicago is 50 do 60 an ounce or 20 a quarter.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

49. I concur. nt

[reggie the dog]

33. the real big money

would be in legalized cocaine, as it is already so expensive.

[Laelth]

10. Good idea. This was Sanda Day O'Connor's baby, and I hope it dies. k&r

:dem:

-Laelth

[Jefferson23]

11. Only 15?, that stinks.

[Hestia]

42. yep, and for massive amounts too - now do you see why we sometimes wax

nostalgic for 'the good ol' days'? Prices were way cheaper then :) ;-)

[wroberts189]

12. I will email my senators. knr nt

[Zhade]

13. Sanity.

NT!

[Wizard777]

15. This is another step in the right direction.

[defendandprotect]

17. Wonderful . . . and we need a "get out of jail" retroactive card . . .!!!

e-mailed Lautenberg and Mendendez, but doubt either will do it --

[LiberalFighter]

20. I want minimum sentencing for Oxycontin users

that have a cyst on their ass.

[anonymous171]

21. Good. Minimum sentencing is absolutely ridiculous.

[Bonobo]

22. B, but... Where's the CHANGE!? nt

[Taverner]

23. YESSSSSSS!!!!

MM's are simply evil

[defendandprotect]

24. Shouldn't there be a "thank you" to Maxine Waters . . . ????

[earcandle]

29. Yes!

Please. 

[defendandprotect]

44. If you wish to "THANK" Rep. Maxine Waters . . . here's the form/telephone #'s . . ..

E-MAIL FORM --

http://www.house.gov/waters/IMA/issue.htm -- ONLY FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS!!!!

------------------------------------------

Telephone ---

Washington, DC
Phone: [phone]

Los Angeles Office
Phone: [phone]


PS: I'm calling her office so I'll also suggest that they open their e-mail for everyone.

In fact, I think we have to keep pressuring Congress to move to completely open e-mail.

These forms and in and out of websites are crap --- !!!

[earcandle]

46. Thank you!

[napoleon_in_rags]

25. Hey, stop it you guys, you're hurting Cheney's bottom line

http://wonkette.com/404469/dick-cheney-and-alberto-gonzales-indicted-for-prison-profiteering
;)

[jeff30997]

26. K&R

And that 3-strikes-and-you're-out law is insane too.I heard horror stories

about that as well.Let the sentence fit the crime.

[Usrename]

27. Al Franken.

:bounce:

[JDPriestly]

28. This is good. I am not for legalization, but giving judges

discretion in sentencing would be good.

[reggie the dog]

34. why should I get a fine or jail time

for growing a plant, smoking its flowers, and making ice hash out of its leaves? Why? What pusishment do I deserve? I am in good health, mountain bike ride four days a week in the mountains, work full time, am a good father. Why do I deserve some kind of punishment? Anyway I gotta go ride my bike ten miles up into the mountains then dig up the ground, the sprouts on my balcony will soon need to go in the woods. If all goes well I will harvest in September. Yeah it is illegal, but fuck it, prove they are mine out in the woods. Every plant I grow is that much less hash from Morocco I will buy. If you legalized weed and put national health insurance in place I just might move back to the USA.

[JDPriestly]

47. I could care less about marijuana. I am concerned about the abuse

of other drugs including prescription drugs. Alternatives to hard time are sentences to rehabilitation. Judges need the discretion to look at each situation and decide what is appropriate.

[Pastiche423]

51. Do you care about the people that need it for medicinal use?

I would not be alive today if not for Marijuana.

[Zhade]

53. I guess some uninformed assholes would rather I go blind or you died.

NT!

[JDPriestly]

55. I mean, I don't think marijuana should be regulated as long as it is the

natural substance that appears in nature and is not somehow enhanced through some procedure or the addition of chemicals.

[reggie the dog]

36. you missed out on that whole live and let live idea huh?

which part of your lifestyle should I try to make illegal??? HMMM no, if you are not harming anyone I would never try to make your actions illegal as I am not a fascist.

[Zhade]

52. It should be legal. It's a medically-proven beneficial plant.

Educate yourself, and you'll be in favor.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JTFrog]

31. Shove the spam. n/t

[winyanstaz]

37. That would be SOOOO big of them..to not have a mandatory minimum..

sentence on something that should never have been illegal in the first place.
I have to try to not be angry at those that don't realize all the bio=degradable products we could be using to help save our planet.
I have to try not to frown at those that are so eager to keep it illegal and let a government that taxes every single aspect of their lives talk about taxing even this.....while all the factories and jobs that would open if it was legal are still not allowed for Americans that are dying for jobs.
I have to try to not cry for all those in chemo or chronic pain that could get a little relief if it was legal for those in agony and pain and dying..
However, if we can tax the shit out of it..maybe they will make it legal..at prices the poor and dying cant afford...my ..how nice.

[Soylent Brice]

38. get ready for a record number of appeals.

this is excellent news!!!!

K&R

[Rhiannon12866]

39. Great news! Thanks! K&R.

And long past time... :eyes:

[DemBones DemBones]

40. Funny how House members are always more courageous

than Senators when it's the House members who stand for re-election every two years while the Senate is secure for six. Maybe they're just too secure, you think?

[defendandprotect]

45. The Senate was intended to s l o w down the people's wishes ....

I guess we have to admit it's the elite of government --- bleech!!!

And it would take 18 years to totally overturn the Senate -- !!!!

[ensho]

43. kick

nt

[jeff30997]

48. Error: You've already recommended that thread.

[Rebubula]

50. Go Maxine!!!

This is a common sense bill...bound to fail due to lack of common sense in the drug debate

[FLAprogressive]

54. Good luck getting it passed. The country is still brainwashed.