It is high time for a drug policy grounded in science, compassion, economics and health and human rights
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said he will endorse legislation to decriminalize the possession and public consumption of marijuana. If the law passes, it will make Philadelphia one the largest cities in the country to turn back punitive drug laws. Maybe a great first step on the path to legalization which is a growing trend in the U.S. and where we are heading. If nothing else it will bring marijuana into the light, legitimize it as a business with control and protections and provide much needed revenue to the states.
The benefits of this bill (introduced by the Philadelphia Democratic city council member Jim Kenney), is in its rational approach to penalizing minor drug offences, calling for a fine of $25 for possession of small amounts of the drug and $100 for smoking it in public. Kenny explained that the offenders would not face criminal charges and would be able to have their fines waived by agreeing to perform public service. He went on to say, “we’ve gotten to a place where it is out of the criminal realm… there’s no more handcuffs, no more bookings, no more criminal record. Police will not have to leave their posts and go to the station to deal with this.”
Mayor Nutter told reporters on Monday that “this is about how we deal with penalties in that regards. And there will be penalties.” The bill is expected to go to a vote in two weeks and then signed by the Mayor Nutter.
The motivation for this enlightened bill comes from the discriminatory and unreasonably punitive (“cruel and unusual punishment”) drug legislation and arrest reality in Pennsylvania. Out of over 55,000 people arrested each year in the state for drug possession (population 12 percent black and 83 percent white), blacks made up 40 percent of all drug arrests while whites made up over 58 percent in 2011. Clearly African Americans appear to be disproportionally targeted for drug arrests.
In addition, a study by the American Civil Liberties Union found that “the aggressive enforcement of marijuana possession laws needlessly ensnares hundreds of thousands of people into the criminal justice system and wastes billions of taxpayers’ dollars. What’s more, it is carried out with staggering racial bias. Despite being a priority for police departments nationwide, the War on Marijuana has failed to reduce marijuana use and availability and diverts resources that could be better invested in our communities.” The report also indicates that “every 0.01 hours, someone in the United States is arrested for having marijuana; A Black person is 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than a white person.”
Philadelphia City Councilman Jim Kenny pressed for this legislative change recognizing that an arrest for marijuana results in a criminal record, making it more difficult or impossible to get a job (get out of poverty and the pursuit of happiness), reduce chances for college aid (get out of poverty and the pursuit of happiness), eliminate one’s chance to serve in the military (get out of poverty, the pursuit of happiness and serving our country), and vote (participate in and contribute to the democratic process). Kenny went on to say “this plan will keep 4,000 people from being arrested each year, and will save the Philadelphia Police Department about $4 million a year.”
Important to note that on the state level, Pennsylvania is one of twenty-four states that passed legislation legalizing medical marijuana and that on the federal level, marijuana is still illegal, making patients and providers vulnerable to arrests from federal law enforcement.
Considering that the “War on Drugs” has been a complete failure and an exorbitantly costly policy, is it not high time to promote and pass drug policies grounded in science, compassion and health and human rights, like the proposed Philadelphia law?
What do you think?
Photo: ABCNT /Flicker
I stand corrected. It is pending http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002481
Thanks for the correction Les.
Great article. One correction. Pennsylvania has NOT legalized medical cannabis yet. We are working on that and expect a vote in the state senate next week.
And every administration since continued it. It has become part of the culture of America and it’s pointless, expensive and destroys lives. Time to stop that “war” and use the resources elsewhere where they can do some good as well as collect revenue from all drugs not just the ones Government currently decided are Legal.
This is why agencies that violate the Bill Of Rights should be abolished. The BATF would be next on my list. Neither one is mentioned in the Enumerated Powers section of the Constitution either.
Who started the War On Drugs and created the DEA? Richard Nixon, who was no stranger to lawbreaking himself.