The state got here as shut because it ever has to decriminalizing all medication final month.
“Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a civil fine of not more than fifty dollars or participation in a needs screening to identify health and other service needs,” the proposed change to the state’s drug legal guidelines learn.
Called “An Act relative to harm reduction and racial equality,” two payments had been first launched to each legislative our bodies in March of final 12 months. S.1277 and H.2119 each sat quietly in legislative committee till September, when lawmakers held a digital listening to on the payments.
They once more sat with out movement or remark, via most of a 12 months, till the very finish of June after they had been unceremoniously reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery and quietly despatched to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing to find out the “appropriateness and fiscal effect of such legislation.”
That committee has since referred the House’s model to a examine order, successfully ending its progress, a spokesperson for state Sen. Julian Cyr, one invoice’s sponsor, advised the Herald.
The proven fact that the matter was thought-about represents progress, based on drug coverage change advocates.
“The war on drugs has failed. The experience of the last few decades shows arresting and jailing people for drug use does not work,” Emily Kaltenbach, a senior director with the Drug Policy Alliance advised the Herald.
“Drugs are more potent, readily available, cheaper than ever before and people are cycling through prison with zero chance of access to recovery services. The approach that Massachusetts is considering offers people a new option — a health-based approach,” she mentioned.
Attorney General Maura Healey, at present the lone Democrat looking for the governor’s workplace, mentioned at a press availability Tuesday she is in favor of hurt discount approaches, however didn’t particularly endorse decriminalization.
“Sadly we continue to experience opioid overdoses and deaths around the state, in fact last year we saw an increase,” she mentioned. “I am a huge supporter of investments in…harm reduction, prevention and recovery efforts. Meeting people where they are.”
Though neither piece of laws may even see the sunshine of the chamber ground, in the event that they did Massachusetts wouldn’t be the primary state to take this step.
At the tip of 2020 Oregon eliminated all felony penalty for drug possession. Proponents of the state’s legislation change, forward of its passage, mentioned the so-called “War on Drugs” had failed, that decriminalization put tax {dollars} to raised use than felony course of and that drug coverage impacts folks of colour disproportionately.
The outcomes?
Washington County, Oregon, District Attorney Kevin Barton has advised reporters the change within the legislation has resulted in a spike in overdose deaths and property crimes.
Advocates level to different knowledge. In the primary 12 months 16,000 folks within the state got therapy and assist for his or her drug issues as a substitute of arrests, based on a report introduced to that state’s well being authority.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”