Florida Rep. Dotie Joseph (D) has filed some very ambitious legislation, titled the “Collateral Consequences of Convictions and Decriminalization of Cannabis and All Drugs Act.” This bill’s ultimate goal is to decriminalize all drugs, though it also contains language that would bring relief to those with existing drug convictions.
The bill’s official subject is “revising penalties for nonviolent offenders,” something we can all get behind. The legislature can be summed up in this bill statement:
“In the interest of the health and public safety of the residents of Florida, preserving individual freedoms without sacrificing community costs, allowing law enforcement to focus resources on violent and property crimes, generating revenue for education, substance abuse prevention and treatment, freeing public resources to invest in communities and other public purposes rather than continuing to overburden prisons with a population that needs medical attention, seeking corrective equity on the impact of the ‘war on drugs,’ and identifying real people-centered solutions to various drugs crises like the opioid epidemic, the Legislature is prioritizing treatment and safety in an effort to preserve lives rather than discard them through criminalization and incarceration.”
This bill would do wonders for those with marijuana convictions, who would receive automatic expunctions if more than a year passes since the date of the arrest. Additionally, possession of up to an ounce of marijuana would be a non-criminal violation that carries a measly $50 fine instead of a misdemeanor offense.
The bill also states that:
“[crimes] associated with the personal usage and possession of controlled substances that do not involve production, distribution or sale shall be decriminalized in favor of civil fines and referral for drug rehabilitation.”
Rep. Joseph’s progressive bill is just the latest attempt to end criminalization. It’s no secret that there are too many people in prison for non-violent drug offenses and that even those who don’t see jail time suffer under the limitations of criminal records. Drastic reformation measures need to happen to 1. ensure that the next generation doesn’t have to face the burden of finding work, housing, loans, or licenses with a criminal record attached to their names, and 2. make reparations to those who have already suffered too long with criminal records.
If you’re tired of having to explain your charge, arrest, or conviction, we can help. Get in touch with Easy Expunctions to see if we can help remove your criminal record once and for all—the sooner you get started, the sooner you can experience life with a clean background check!