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Drug Reform

Well, here are my ideas on how to make the world a better place.

Drug use is down in America, and we can use this as a chance to congratulate ourselves, and tell ourselves that we are awesome, or we can look at what is really going on in America.

The price for decreasing drug use has been very high. There are gross inequalities and injustices in our court systems and drug laws that mandate huge prison sentences for often unwitting accomplices and for people with hugely mitigated circumstances. We are letting people waste away in prison for decades, when it has been proven that rehab can and does work. These are not violent criminals or hardened thugs we are talking about, but normal people who are law-abiding in every other way that have an addiction they can't break on their own. Obviously there are gang leaders and other violent drug dealers and users. They deserve more than ever to be locked away, where they can't continuate this epidemic that still ravages lives in America.

Here is what I propose

Mandatory Minimum Sentences All mandatory sentences for first time non-violent drug offenders shall be removed.

Drug Court A nation-wide system of drug courts shall be established to try specifically drug and drug-related cases. Sentencing options for drug cases shall include treatment, prison and fines.

Weight Sentencing Equalization The Crack Cocaine and powdered Cocaine sentencing guidelines shall be equalized along the powdered Cocaine weight regulations

Second Chance A "second-chance" revitalization program as promoted by Ed Koch and Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree shall be instituted. The program will expunge felony offenses from the record of first-time non-violent drug felons who complete their sentences without additional problems, recieve or have a GED and are certified monthly as drug-free for two years after their release.

Drug Rehabilitation The Drug Enforcement Administration shall be awarded funding and monies as needed to make rehab available to all convicted drug users who request it and for all convicted drug users so ordered by judges as part of their sentences

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