A bill to end criminal penalties for drug possession at the federal level was unveiled by Democrats on Tuesday, ahead of the 50th anniversary when Pre

Democrats Unveil Bill to Decriminalize Drug Possession at Federal Level, Expunge Records

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2021-06-15 23:30:06

A bill to end criminal penalties for drug possession at the federal level was unveiled by Democrats on Tuesday, ahead of the 50th anniversary when President Richard Nixon declared the "war on drugs."

The Drug Policy Reform Act (DPRA) would decriminalize personal use possession of all scheduled drugs—including marijuana, heroin and cocaine—and automatically expunge records and provide for resentencing for those serving time for certain drug-related arrests. It would also prohibit the denial of employment, immigration status, public benefits, voting rights, and more based upon a criminal history for drug possession.

The legislation, proposed by Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri and Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, also called for the country to address substance abuse with more health-centered approaches.

"The United States has not simply failed in how we carried out the War on Drugs—the War on Drugs stands as a stain on our national conscience since its very inception," Watson Coleman said in a statement.