Kentucky Proposes Change in Drug Law

       Drug task force in Kentucky proposes change to penal law and controlled substance act, new reform would prevent prosecutors and judges from being allowed to sentence first time defendants of drug possession or drug trafficking at lower volumes to prison. Sentencing would be limited to probation and treatment, for drug addicts facing non violent drug charges. The proposal also states a graduated penalties process to eliminate judges from handing down prison sentences for probationers faced with minor technical violations, such as failing a drug test. The new proposal is brought into consideration due to the vast increase in possession and trafficking charges in recent years from prescription drug abuse. Task members also state that laws should be geared toward large scale drug dealers and propose a commercial drug trafficking bill that would require a 20 year prison term.
       Although the reason for this proposal is due to simple economics, in our stagnant economy it is more feasible to offer probation to non violent drug offenders as opposed to the cost of incarcerating them. It is still a welcome beginning to changing the way we deal with non violent drug offenders that are not posing any threat to our society. The simple fact is that it is much cheaper to send a defendant to treatment than to prison. I suppose the reality that it is morally the right thing to do is just icing on the cake.

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Kentucky Drug Laws Would Change Under New Proposal

Governor Signs Law to Stop Overdoses

         There is definitely something wrong in a society that punishes people for trying to do the right thing. Yet that's exactly what happens in most states, especially Florida when someone calls in a drug overdose trying to save a life. Do we really want unnecessary deaths due to the fact that people are afraid to call 911 for medical assistance because of over zealous law enforcement and prosecution. Its time to change this policy in Florida. Governor Andrew Cuomo 
has signed a new law in New York to stop that very thing. The new law prevents police and states attorneys from arresting, charging and prosecuting people with drug related crimes while trying to save a life. New York is leading the way with this new intelligent and moral approach to try and stop unnecessary death during a national crises of drug overdoses.

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911 Good Samaritan Law

Portugal Decriminalizes Drugs

          Here is a shining example of how the war on drugs not only doesn't work but makes the problem worse. Every year the United States spends over 36 billion dollars on a war on drugs that fails, not to mention the cost to prosecute and jail the offenders. More money should be spent on the rehabilitation of users of hard drugs rather than throwing them in jail. Our jails and prisons are filled with non violent drug offenders and they just keep hiring more cops and building more jails. The USA has the highest percentage of its population in jail than any other country. Imagine if we spent a quarter of that budget on rehabilitation and education. In the midst of our current financial crises, budgets are being cut everywhere and the cuts are hitting drug rehabilitation and education the hardest. In some cases there being completely abolished. If non violent drug offenders were no longer clogging our courts and filling our jails and were being treated with compassion and dignity, the cost of rehabilitating them would be a fraction of the cost for the war on drugs. Then the rest of the money that was left over could help balance the federal budget.

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Article on Portugal Decriminalizing Drugs