Massachusetts
Massachusetts Lawmakers Considering Decriminalizing All Drugs
A rising variety of states have both decriminalized all illicit medicine or are at the least discussing it. Embody Massachusetts in that group.
The Boston Herald reported the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Psychological Well being, Substance Use, and Restoration “unceremoniously reported favorably” on S.1277 and H.2119, a pair of payments filed final 12 months often known as “An Act relative to hurt discount and racial equality.” In response to Trackbill.com, the payments have been despatched to the Joint Committee on Well being Care Financing for additional examine.
Massachusetts Lawmakers Are Contemplating Decriminalizing All Medicine
The transfer kills the laws for this session however signifies that lawmakers are excited by persevering with the dialogue within the subsequent session.
Dartmouth Democrat Rep. Chris Markey serves on the Joint Committee on Psychological Well being, Substance Use, and Restoration. Markey stated he doesn’t assist the proposed laws.
Massachusetts Lawmakers Are Contemplating Decriminalizing All Medicine
In response to marijuanamoment.web, “Oregon made historical past when voters authorized a poll initiative to decriminalize possession of all medicine and develop entry to remedy” in November 2020. The web publication says a number of different states, together with California, Virginia, New York, and Washington, are contemplating comparable measures.
The Herald reported the proposed change within the state’s medicine legal guidelines says partly, writing “Any one who violates this part shall be topic to a civil high quality of no more than fifty {dollars} or participation in a wants screening to determine well being and different service wants.”
Man medicine addicted injecting heroine in his arm
Supporters of such decriminalization legal guidelines argue that arresting and jailing folks for drug offenses is the fallacious strategy and has failed repeatedly.
“I do not assume legalization of illicit medicine accomplishes the targets of people who’re hooked on medicine,” Rep. Markey stated. “We want extra substance abuse counseling and rehabilitation facilities.”
“Legalizing it is not going to take away the dependancy problem,” he stated. “Criminalization typically limits folks’s use of the medicine initially, and that’s my hope.”
Keep tuned as now we have not heard the final of this debate.