New York (hopefully) to Repeal (some) Draconian Drug Laws

New York to repeal many of its current Drug Laws, including Mandatory Minimums for "lower level drug felons"
NYT article here


though in press release today with the subtitle, "devil in the details," the Drug Policy Alliance warns advocates that no final deal has yet been reached:
"This agreement is a good sign that progress is being made to enact real reform, but it is not final, and meaningful reform will be determined by the details,” said Gabriel Sayegh of the Drug Policy Alliance. “The final deal must include the core components of meaningful reform: restoration of judicial discretion in drug cases including 2nd time offenses, sentencing reform, expansion of community drug treatment and alternatives to incarceration, and retroactive sentencing relief for those serving unjust, long sentences for low-level offenses.”



NYT article notes, among other things, that
- though the cost of added programs, like drug courts and drug addiction treatment programs, will be high (100s of millions), "in the long run, the changes are expected to save money because sending offenders to treatment is less expensive than spending $45,000 a year to keep them confined."
-some, but not all currently incarcerated for crimes that fall under the new policy would be eligible to apply to have their sentences commuted
-"lawmakers said they were on track to wipe out the central elements of laws that have been criticized for decades as overly punitive and disproportionately harmful to minorities."
-under new legislation, judges would be able to send "all but the most serious" offenders to treatment

the article ends,
“New York could actually become a national leader,” said Gabriel Sayegh of the Drug Policy Alliance, a national group that urges relaxation of certain drug sentencing laws. “We’re going in a public health direction here. We’re making that turn, and that’s what’s significant.”

and lets hope that others follow suit:
According to Families Against Mandatory Minimums,
"On March 12, members of Congress introduced bills to repeal all drug mandatory minimums; eliminate mandatory minimums for both crack and powder cocaine, and increase federal good time."

*image from cannabisculture.com