ew California Bill Would Reduce Penalties for Drug Possession
Los Angeles drug crime defense attorneys believe that the war on drugs in California has relied heavily over the years on severe criminal punishments over treatment options for individuals convicted of drug possession. The penalties for marijuana-related offenses have decreased in recent years, but the penalties for heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine possession have remained harsh. A new bill could potentially change these laws.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Senator Mark Leno joined hands with the American Civil Liberties Union of California and the NAACP to announce a bill that would make simple possession of dangerous drugs a misdemeanor instead of a felony. He says it could save California as much as $200 million a year by keeping fewer drug offenders behind bars. Leno says that the goal of the bill is to ensure that low-level drug offenders are given the rehabilitation they need instead of incarceration.
