Rep. Slater Introduces Bill to Change Simple Drug Possession from Felonies to Misdemeanors
Friday, March 01, 2019
Representative Scott Slater has introduced legislation that would reclassify simple drug possession for personal use as a misdemeanor.
The bill would bring Rhode Island’s statute in line with 20 other states across the country.
“Too many lives have been ruined due to treating people dealing with addiction issues as violent criminals and locking them away at great cost to taxpayers. If we truly want to address drug problems in our state, we should not be incarcerating people suffering from addiction due to personal use drug possession,” said Slater.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
The Legislation
This drug reclassification reform is expected to reduce Rhode Island's prison population and generate related savings for the state.
Reclassification also promises a reduction in felony convictions, which carry significant collateral consequences and costs (both monetary and non-monetary) to Rhode Island communities.
The proposed amendments would:
• Change simple possession for personal use of a non-marijuana controlled substance in amounts 1 ounce or less from a felony to a misdemeanor.
• Adjust the maximum fines and prison terms for violations to correspond with a misdemeanor offense.
• Bring Rhode Island's law in line with simple possession laws in many states. More than 20 states, including Massachusetts, New York, Maine, and Vermont provide misdemeanor penalties for simple possession of drugs other than marijuana. Since 2014, California, Utah, Connecticut, Alaska, and Oklahoma have similarly reclassified drug possession offenses.
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