Florida: Project to decriminalize all illegal drugs submitted

Dotie Joseph, Florida's Democratic representative, introduced a bill last week to decriminalize all current illegal drugs, provide remedies for those already convicted of drug offenses and promote harm reduction services.

With regard specifically to the cannabis, Under the new law, possession of up to one ounce (28 grams) would become a non-criminal offense punishable by a 50$ fine, rather than a misdemeanor. The same non-criminal sanction would apply to the delivery of up to one ounce of cannabis.

Individuals with previous convictions for these cannabis-related offences would be eligible for automatic expungement if more than a year has elapsed since the date of arrest.

The bill of law, Collateral Consequences of Convictions and Decriminalization of Cannabis and All Drugs Act,goes on to state that the legislature «intends to prioritize rehabilitative health intervention over the criminalization of personal use of controlled substances, including, but not limited to, stimulants such as cocaine, methamphetamine, opioids, heroin, fentanyl, depressants or benzodiazepines, and any other addictive controlled substance».

To this end, crimes «associated with the personal use and possession of controlled substances that do not involve production, distribution or sale will be decriminalized in favor of civil fines and a focus on drug rehabilitation.»

«In the interest of the public health and safety of Florida residents, preserving individual liberties without sacrificing community costs, allowing law enforcement to focus resources on violent and property crimes, generating revenue for substance abuse education, prevention and treatment, freeing up public resources to invest in communities and other public purposes rather than continuing to overload prisons with a population in need of medical care. by seeking to correct the impact of the «war on drugs» and identifying real people-centered solutions to various drug-related crises, such as the opioid epidemic, the legislature is prioritizing treatment and safety in an effort to preserve lives rather than abandon them through criminalization and incarceration.»

The legislation would further require the state health department to study «more effective methods of treating addiction instead of criminalization.»

«This study should include, but not be limited to, supervised drug consumption centers, which have been proven to reduce drug-related public disorder and lead to a decrease in behaviors related to HIV and hepatitis C transmission,» the text states.

The department would be required to submit a report on its findings to the governor and legislative leaders by December 31, 2022.