Brother's addiction spurs Senator's support to changes in drug laws
The Denver Post
A state senator revealed his brother's
decade-long addiction to meth today when he and three other lawmakers
unveiled their bill to reduce the crime of drug possession from a felony
to a misdemeanor.
Senate Bill 2012-163 deals with drug offenders
who primarily are users and addicts rather than dealers, and enhances
their access to treatment.
"We have so many people throughout this
country who are the casualties of a failed war on drugs," said Rep.
Claire Levy, D-Boulder. "And in one sense when you get a felony not only
do you get a criminal penalty, but what you have is a sentence to life
without employment."
During a news conference at the Capitol, Levy presented the bill with Sens. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield,
and Pat Steadman, D-Denver, and Rep. Don Beezley, R-Broomfield .
That's
when Mitchell said his younger brother is a meth addict who has been
jailed in more than one state and has a felony conviction. But he said a
drug treatment program appears to have pointed his brother in a new
direction.
"My family is filled with love and hope for his turnaround," Mitchell said.
SB
163 has the backing of diverse organizations, including the
Independence Institute, the Colorado Criminal Defense Foundation, and
the Criminal Justice Reform Coalition.
"Let's be clear. This is
not legalization. This is not decriminalization," Mitchell said. "This
is simply a smarter approach to fighting the evils of drug abuse in our
society.
Trafficking, dealing, distribution will remain a
felony. But for the personal users, the addict, the person trapped in
this destructive cycle, we'll focus our effort on treatment and
improvement."
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