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| Governor Might Sign Drug Reform Bills |
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Posted by FoM on March 01, 2002 at 18:19:00 PT By Gilbert Gallegos, Tribune Reporter Source: Albuquerque Tribune 
Gov. Gary Johnson is expected to sign five bills today that deal with drug laws and prison populations. Three of the bills are part of the governor's efforts to ease drug laws in the state.The other two bills are related to drug treatment and easing prison population, although the sponsors of those bills did not directly endorse the governor's drug reform agenda. "The bills are small steps in the right direction; they will improve public health and fiscal responsibility," Johnson said in a statement issued Thursday. Johnson had backed six drug policy reform bills in the 30-day legislative session that ended in mid-February. Three of the measures dealing with decriminalizing marijuana possession and legalizing medicinal marijuana failed during the legislative session. Here are the bills Johnson is expect to sign this afternoon: Habitual offenders: House Bill 26 changes state law so that judges are no longer required to sentence drug offenders to extra time in prison if they have prior convictions. Now, judges will have flexibility to add extra time or keep sentences the same. This is one of Johnson's drug policy reform bills. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Ken Martinez, a Grants Democrat. Civil asset forfeiture: Senate Bill 5 no longer allows the government to automatically seize a person's assets, such as a car or cash, when they are accused of certain crimes, such as drug crimes. The change in law now requires a person to be convicted of a crime before police can take the assets. This is also part of the governor's drug reform package. The bill was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Manny Aragon, a South Valley Democrat. Medicaid for convicted drug offenders: House Bill 11 changes the law so the state can get a waiver to allow a person convicted of a drug offense to qualify for federally funded benefits, such as welfare assistance or food stamps. This is also part of the governor's drug reform package. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Joe Thompson, a Northeast Heights Republican. Drug treatment for convicted offenders: Senate Bill 129 is similar to House Bill 11 in that it allows drug offenders to qualify for federal benefits. But the Senate bill has a provision that requires convicted drug offenders to be tested for substance abuse, and possibly qualify for drug treatment services, before they qualify for Medicaid benefits. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Linda Lopez, a South Valley Democrat. Corrections Population Control Act: House Bill 263 creates a commission to study ways to prevent overcrowding in prisons. One of the issues the commission will address is whether to allow for the early release nonviolent drug offenders from overcrowded prisons if they are within 180 days of their release date. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart, a Northeast Heights Democrat. Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM) Related Articles: Drug Reformers Put Spin on Defeat State's Reforms Fall Short, Anti-Drug Group Says Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #4 posted by CorvallisEric on March 02, 2002 at 12:54:58 PT |
| There's a black sheep somewhere among the tobacco execs. I don't know if he is it. Also, a member of the Reynolds family is very anti-tobacco. More from the article: Mr Broughton said that his son and daughter do not smoke but that he would have warned them if he “caught them behind the bike sheds” when they were younger. “I said to them ‘I would advise you not to smoke. But if you want to smoke it is your affair. It is not good for you. You are better off not smoking’,” he said. Never mind the specifics of the drug he's talking about; just notice the pragmatic attitude encouraged by the legality of it. And realize that tobacco smoking has declined in many countries by persuation instead of prohibition. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by goneposthole on March 02, 2002 at 05:42:18 PT |
| They will have their cake and eat it too. If hemp is grown as a commercial crop for food, fiber and medicine, the world will not end. The prohbitionist's basket of rotten eggs is piled real high. It's about to tip over. Grow hemp, save the country. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by SoberStoner on March 01, 2002 at 20:43:17 PT |
| Even if these do pass, it's not nearly enough, and it wont matter anyway because the feds will just take over where the state stops, one look at Cali proves that clear as day. It's better than nothing, but what I am really interested in is how the new Alaska bill fares. I dont remember seeing anything about it lately, so have i just missed it or is it DOA already? [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #1 posted by Jose Melendez on March 01, 2002 at 18:45:49 PT:
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| Someone pinch me... are these the "false propaganda" news pieces the Pentagon was talking about?
Don't smoke, says tobacco chairmanBy James DoranTHE head of Britain’s biggest cigarette company has made an unprecedented admission that smoking is bad for you and that people are “better off” avoiding tobacco. The comment by Martin Broughton, the executive chairman of British American Tobacco, the second biggest cigarette-maker in the world, is the clearest warning yet wrung from a tobacco chief.
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