Changes in New York Drug Sentencing

In New York, a new set of drug law reforms has been proposed that would leave sentencing for non-violent drug offenses up to the discretion of a judge rather than using mandatory sentencing. This could find a lot of non-violent drug offenders in treatment, rather than prison.

Calitics:: New York to Repeal Rockefeller Drug Laws - Will CA Follow?

As our state budget lurches from crisis to crisis, it is clear that we cannot afford to maintain the laws for a war on drugs that has clearly been lost. Tom Ammiano's call to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana is a sensible and long overdue response to both failed drug/prison policy and the budget crisis.

Technorati Tags: drug laws, war on drugs, drug sentencing, new york law, prison