(Mandatory Minimum Sentences in the Federal System FY2010, by Drug Type) "Approximately two-thirds (66.1%, n=15,831) of the 23,964 drug offenders in fiscal year 2010 were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty. More than one-quarter (28.1%, n=4,447) of drug offenses carrying a mandatory minimum penalty involved powder cocaine, followed by crack cocaine (24.7%, n=3,905), methamphetamine (21.9%, n=3,466), marijuana (17.2%, n=2,725), heroin (6.9%, n=1,098) and other drugs (1.1%, n=172). See Figure 8-1.“The application of mandatory minimum penalties varies greatly by the type of drug involved in the offense. For example, in fiscal year 2010, a mandatory minimum penalty applied in 83.1 percent (n=3,466) of drug cases involving methamphetamine. In contrast, such a penalty applied in less than 45 percent (n=2,725) of marijuana cases. With respect to other drugs (such as PCP and LSD), such a penalty applied in 11.4 percent (n=172) of cases.”
Source: “Report to Congress: Mandatory Minimum Penalties in the Federal Criminal Justice System” (Washington, DC: US Sentencing Commission, October 2011), p. 153.- See more at: http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Mandatory_Minimum_Sentencing#sthash.4jftDXNN.dpuf
1. Cannibis never has met the requirement for Schedule I, it was purely a political listing when the same nut who wrote the rules fo alcohol prohibitiion picked up on pot.
2. Cannibis has many legitimate medical uses, but yes, their have been abuses of the MM laws. Now that “recreational” Marihuana is being accepted by more states, those abuses of MM should reduce considerably.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, with legalized marijuana and the feds taking it off Schedule I, it may belong in Schedule III but not higher as it’s not a narcotic, that long arm of “three strikes” will no longer affect the many folks it does now.
I have several chronic pain conditions, and while still use some of the standard pharmaceuticals (that WILL KILL YOU if abused, and maybe even if NOT abused!) as occasional alternative or adjunct to marijuana, which most of the time, and overall, works better and CAN NOT KILL YOU!
It depends on what state you live in how severely you will be punished (illogicallly) for marijuana posession, and yes, many ARE serving long terms for mere possession, not sale. It is notable as well that long term incarcerations for minor crimes DO seem to be where the states have converted most favorably to “private Prisons”, which btw also have a much worse records for both care, and escapes! (They also end up costing more!)
Mandatory minimums ARE the brainchild of the privatized (corporate) prison industry, and should be eliminated, especially for non-violent crimes. An in-law by the way has a father doing life on three strikes, and committed not one single violent crime!!!
Justice is no longer within the"conservative" vocabulary, especially where profit is to be made.
I have no problem keeping truly bad guys locked up, like all those white collar folks who kill peoples’ lives by paper manipulations, who are as bad as, or worse, than that punk with a gun at 7-11.(as long as he doesn’t fire it.)
Portugal dropped all drug laws about a decade ago, addiction, crime, all rates have gone down since then. Drug, booze and tobacco will fight will all they have against it.
So long as the people Opposing it behave as if it were a Religion, the situation will Not get any better..For the Police, they make Huge amounts of “Free” money from the Asset Forfeiture laws and will Kill to protect the slush fund those laws give them..
Actually, Mandatory Minimum sentencing had been around Much Earlier.But, it had been Done Away with in the 1970s.Then, the Republicans won an Election by pushing the “Democrats are Soft On Crime” idea on voters.The Democrats stepped into that Trap and no one has been willing to say “Wait Just a Damn Minute” since.…
wolfhoundblues1 almost 9 years ago
That and cannabis is a schedule 1 drug.
oneoldhat almost 9 years ago
so you are selling crack at the high school but if I had a son he would look like you — 30 days probation
louieglutz almost 9 years ago
jase99:
(Mandatory Minimum Sentences in the Federal System FY2010, by Drug Type) "Approximately two-thirds (66.1%, n=15,831) of the 23,964 drug offenders in fiscal year 2010 were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty. More than one-quarter (28.1%, n=4,447) of drug offenses carrying a mandatory minimum penalty involved powder cocaine, followed by crack cocaine (24.7%, n=3,905), methamphetamine (21.9%, n=3,466), marijuana (17.2%, n=2,725), heroin (6.9%, n=1,098) and other drugs (1.1%, n=172). See Figure 8-1.“The application of mandatory minimum penalties varies greatly by the type of drug involved in the offense. For example, in fiscal year 2010, a mandatory minimum penalty applied in 83.1 percent (n=3,466) of drug cases involving methamphetamine. In contrast, such a penalty applied in less than 45 percent (n=2,725) of marijuana cases. With respect to other drugs (such as PCP and LSD), such a penalty applied in 11.4 percent (n=172) of cases.”
Source: “Report to Congress: Mandatory Minimum Penalties in the Federal Criminal Justice System” (Washington, DC: US Sentencing Commission, October 2011), p. 153.- See more at: http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Mandatory_Minimum_Sentencing#sthash.4jftDXNN.dpuf
you ask, google provides.
Dtroutma almost 9 years ago
1. Cannibis never has met the requirement for Schedule I, it was purely a political listing when the same nut who wrote the rules fo alcohol prohibitiion picked up on pot.
2. Cannibis has many legitimate medical uses, but yes, their have been abuses of the MM laws. Now that “recreational” Marihuana is being accepted by more states, those abuses of MM should reduce considerably.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, with legalized marijuana and the feds taking it off Schedule I, it may belong in Schedule III but not higher as it’s not a narcotic, that long arm of “three strikes” will no longer affect the many folks it does now.
I have several chronic pain conditions, and while still use some of the standard pharmaceuticals (that WILL KILL YOU if abused, and maybe even if NOT abused!) as occasional alternative or adjunct to marijuana, which most of the time, and overall, works better and CAN NOT KILL YOU!
It depends on what state you live in how severely you will be punished (illogicallly) for marijuana posession, and yes, many ARE serving long terms for mere possession, not sale. It is notable as well that long term incarcerations for minor crimes DO seem to be where the states have converted most favorably to “private Prisons”, which btw also have a much worse records for both care, and escapes! (They also end up costing more!)
Mandatory minimums ARE the brainchild of the privatized (corporate) prison industry, and should be eliminated, especially for non-violent crimes. An in-law by the way has a father doing life on three strikes, and committed not one single violent crime!!!
Justice is no longer within the"conservative" vocabulary, especially where profit is to be made.
I have no problem keeping truly bad guys locked up, like all those white collar folks who kill peoples’ lives by paper manipulations, who are as bad as, or worse, than that punk with a gun at 7-11.(as long as he doesn’t fire it.)
griffthegreat almost 9 years ago
Portugal dropped all drug laws about a decade ago, addiction, crime, all rates have gone down since then. Drug, booze and tobacco will fight will all they have against it.
Tarredandfeathered almost 9 years ago
So long as the people Opposing it behave as if it were a Religion, the situation will Not get any better..For the Police, they make Huge amounts of “Free” money from the Asset Forfeiture laws and will Kill to protect the slush fund those laws give them..
Tarredandfeathered almost 9 years ago
Actually, Mandatory Minimum sentencing had been around Much Earlier.But, it had been Done Away with in the 1970s.Then, the Republicans won an Election by pushing the “Democrats are Soft On Crime” idea on voters.The Democrats stepped into that Trap and no one has been willing to say “Wait Just a Damn Minute” since.…