Pubdate: Fri, 06 Dec 2013
Source: Bradenton Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2013 Bradenton Herald
Contact: http://www.bradenton.com/submit-letter/
Website: http://www.bradenton.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58
Author: Jamie Benjamin

TIME FOR FLORIDA TO CHANGE PRISON TERMS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

Since the 1980s, the war on drugs resulted in stiff minimum mandatory
sentences for drug traffickers caught with boatloads of drugs imported
from foreign countries.

Somehow the minimum mandatory drug-trafficking sentences were amended
to include as little as seven prescription pain pills. Somehow,
someone addicted to pain medication after an injury was included in
this web meant for big-time drug traffickers.

This has to stop.

We cannot economically handle the drain on our society to prosecute
and warehouse these individuals who simply need some drug treatment.
These people, our sons, daughters, brothers and sisters who suffer
pain prescription drug medication addictions, can more economically be
counseled and treated as opposed to being warehoused in our prisons
and labeled convicted felons.

Reps. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, and Dave Hood, R-Daytona Beach, and
Sen, Rob Bradley, R-Orange Park, have introduced legislation that
raises the quantity of oxycodone and hydrocodone levels of various
minimum mandatory prison sentences. The chair of the Criminal Justice
Committee, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Shalimar, has agreed to support this
legislation, with conditions.

These legislators should be applauded by the people of the state of
Florida for this display of courage and leadership.

Jamie Benjamin, President, Florida Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers Fort Lauderdale
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MAP posted-by: Matt