|
Sentencing:
South
Carolina
Bill
to
Equalize
Crack,
Powder
Cocaine
Penalties
Moving
4/22/05
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle-old/383/scbill.shtml
A bill that would eliminate
the disparities in sentencing for offenses involving crack and powder cocaine
is moving in the South Carolina legislature. First offense possession
of either cocaine or methamphetamine would become a misdemeanor.
But the news is not all good. Currently, those convicted of first
offense crack possession face up to five years in prison, while those convicted
of first offense powder cocaine possession face only a maximum two-year
sentence. Under Senate
Bill 16, both offenses would have a maximum three-year sentence, so
while crack offenders would see a reduction in possible sentences, powder
offenders face more serious penalties.
The bill removes the distinction
between crack and powder cocaine from state law, as well as the distinction
between ice and methamphetamine, and brings the penalties for all cocaine
offenses in line with those for methamphetamines. It also defines
methamphetamine trafficking as "violent crimes" for sentencing purposes
and adds new meth-related offenses, such as possession of ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine.
The measure passed the Senate
Judiciary Committee April 13, and faces a full Senate vote. Judiciary
Committee members rejected on a 12-2 vote an amendment from Sen. Kevin
Bryant (R-Anderson) that would require mandatory minimum prison sentences
for cocaine and meth possession.
-- END --
|
Issue #383
-- 4/22/05
Editorial:
Now
How
Do
You
Feel?
|
Feature:
House
Conservatives
Pushing
Bill
to
"Fix"
Sentencing,
Increase
Mandatory
Minimums,
Create
New
Drug
Crimes
|
Feature:
Canada
Approves
Sativex
--
Natural
Marijuana-Based
Pharmaceutical
to
Be
on
Pharmacy
Shelves
by
Summer
|
Britain
Passes
"Tough"
New
Drug
Bill:
Tougher
Sentences,
New
Crimes,
More
Police
Power
|
Announcement:
DRCNet/Perry
Fund
Event
to
Feature
US
Rep.
Jim
McDermott,
June
1
in
Seattle
|
Weekly:
This
Week's
Corrupt
Cops
Stories
|
Sentencing:
South
Carolina
Bill
to
Equalize
Crack,
Powder
Cocaine
Penalties
Moving
|
Religious
Freedom:
Supreme
Court
to
Decide
Sacramental
Ayahuasca
Use
Case
|
On
Campus:
University
of
Colorado
Students
Pass
Referendum
Calling
for
Equality
in
Marijuana
and
Alcohol
Penalties
|
Europe:
ENCOD
Offers
Peace
Pipe
to
European
Union
--
Literally
|
Asia:
Malaysia
Considering
Drug
Maintenance
Programs?
|
Media
Scan:
Debra
Saunders
on
Student
Drug
Testing,
Brown
University
SSDP
Opens
Drug
Resource
Center
|
Weekly:
This
Week
in
History
|
SSDP
T-Shirt
and
Flyer
Design
Contest
|
Online:
Audio
Web
Chat
with
Dr.
Andrew
Weil
|
Weekly:
The
Reformer's
Calendar
|
This issue -- main page
This issue -- single-file printer version
Drug War Chronicle -- main page
Chronicle archives
|
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|
