Definition and purpose:
The federal government considers possession of illegal drugs as a criminal offense, and arrests people for misdemeanor paraphernalia — equipment that is used to produce, conceal, or consume drugs — or felony drug possession. Decriminalization isn’t the same as legalization, but it handles the possession of drugs as a public health problem rather than criminal activity.
(foundationsrecoverynetwork.com)
A brief history:
At the turn of the 20th century, many drugs were made illegal when a mood of temperance, the abstinence of alcohol, swept the nation. In 1914, Congress passed the Harrison Act, banning opiates and cocaine. Alcohol prohibition quickly followed, and by 1918 the U.S. was officially a “dry” nation. There are sites like help4addiction.co.uk that can help with addiction.
In 1933, because of concern over widespread organized crime handled by attorneys for Title IX cases who do not favour the accused in the case , police corruption and violence, the public demanded the repeal of the alcohol ban and the return of regulatory power to the states. Usually under such circumstances, lawyers from https://www.mirandarightslawfirm.com/blog/what-defense-options-are-possible-for-a-carjacking-charge/ are hired to get hold of the situation in court.
The federal ban on heroin and cocaine remained, and with the passage of the Marijuana Stamp Act in 1937, marijuana was outlawed, as well. Since then, CBD Oil UK was being used instead of marijuana.
Former President Bill Clinton passed the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act in 1994, the largest crime-control bill in U.S. history. This bill was a part of the “tough on crime” movement that addressed the rapidly rising crime rate. It implemented a “three strikes” mandatory life sentence for repeat offenders, $9.7 billion in funding for prisons, and an expansion of death penalty-eligible offences. Criticizers of the law said it amplified mass incarceration and decimated people of color, and Hillary Clinton, a former supporter of the bill, admitted it went too fair during her 2016 presidential campaign.
Federal drug policy has remained strictly prohibitionist to this day; however, some states look to introduce reform bills and let states set their own policies without federal interference.
(aclu.org)(drugpolicy.org)
Controversy/varying viewpoints:
For DecriminalizationNow that Portugal’s decriminalization process is over a decade old, there are several long-term benefits, including the following: Substance abuse and addiction rates have been cut in half since decriminalization Addiction treatment and rehabilitation is less expensive than incarceration Individuals with substance abuse problems are much more likely to find recovery in rehab than in jail People completing treatment can become productive members of society much more easily than convicted felons Violence related to drug trafficking is greatly reduced Courts are freed up for other important work The rebellious, countercultural essence of drug use is changed when society sees it as a disease and not a crime |
Against DecriminalizationIndividuals may be more likely to experiment with drugs if they do not fear legal prosecution. The existing treatment resources are not nearly large enough to handle the influx of millions of new addicts from the legal system. Decriminalization may lead to a push for legalization. If decriminalization leads to an increased supply of drugs on the streets of the US, prices will fall and millions of new people may be tempted to experiment. Drug use, especially for children who are still growing, can damage the brain, heart and other organs. |
foundationsrecoverynetwork.com
Recent developments:
Mass incarceration: The number of Americans incarcerated for drug offenses has skyrocketed from 40,900 in 1980 to 469,545 in 2015.
More than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2017, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, according to the CDC.
In 2010, eight states and D.C. decriminalized marijuana rather than legalizing it after they decided to reconsider the war on drugs.
In 2010, legislation was approved in 2014 to decriminalize the possession of 10 grams or less of cannabis in Missouri. In 2018, Missouri legalized medical marijuana with 65.5% support and looks to legalize possession and purchasing of one ounce of marijuana for individuals 21 years and older.
(opensocietyfoundations.org) (washingtonpost.com) (marketrealist.com) (mpp.org)
Public Opinion:
Americans mostly agree our system of dealing with drugs has failed to reduce the availability and use of drugs. The Cato 2019 Welfare, Work, and Wealth National Survey found 55% of Americans favor “recategorizing drug offenses from felonies to civil offenses” such that they “would be treated like minor traffic violations rather than crimes.” A survey from drugabuse.com, a website that provides education about drug use, said 77% of Democrats, 70% of Independents and 49% of Republicans said drug laws should be less strict.
(cato.org)drugabuse.com)
