Issue Position: Rehabilitation NOT Incarceration for Non-Violent/Non-Trafficking Drug Offenders

Issue Position

I will propose a bill that ensures lighter sentencing and possible probation for 1st time non-violent, non-trafficking drug offenders. Drug Abuse is a major issue in our community. It's unfortunate but true. Another hard truth is that our children, community and future are paying a heavy price as a result.

Who does this effect?
Families, children and the community. Our family structure has been disrupted by the onslaught of drug use in the community. We have to rehabilitate and rebuild. We can't ignore a growing problem. Our children are living in homes with grandparents because one or both parents may be on drugs, in jail, passed away or have simply chosen to abandon a tough situation. We have to help our community to get it's legs back. We need to help those that are suffering with drug issues and give them another chance to make it. Having tough drug sentencing for non-violent and non-trafficking offenders is unjust and unfair. Our community is suffering because the family structure becomes unstable and society as a whole has to pick up the slack. So instead of our tax dollars going into education or economic development, they are going to a prison system that only encourages more of the same with tough sentencing.

Why should we do this?
The time to make a change is always right now. We can't continue to pass the buck or make excuses. Our children, our families and our community is dependent upon it. Our young men are being killed in these streets because they think selling drugs are the answer and a shortcut to a better life. If we can limit the number of those who use by getting them help we can fight that war from the opposite side of the problem. If we can lighten the sentencing for non-violent, non-trafficking offenders our community, families and children will be strengthened.

How we would like to see it implemented.
It begins in legislature. We have to defend members of our community that are receiving unjust sentencing on second offenses (which right now is a mandatory 2 to 10 year sentence for small amounts of marijuana). Instead, we would like to see rehabilitative measures (such as treatment for drug users) put in place that will allow a man/woman suffering from drug addiction an opportunity to heal and return to become a productive member of society.

While this initiative began during "The War on Drugs' it was never reviewed and amended… and what has resulted is our community of grandparents raising grandchildren, multiple children being displaced and put into the foster/adoption system and hopeless offenders being branded with the debilitating label as ex-offender disabling them from specific jobs, voting and more.

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