Decriminalization of LSD Bill [Passed]

[Ebowed]

Alright, I'll support this.  Current drug laws are causing prison overcrowding, due to the incarceration of nonviolent drug users, which in turn leads to decreased sentences for violent criminals to make room for new prisoners.  That said, I have some amendments.

1. Title of bill changed to Legalization of LSD Bill
2. Sec. 2, Cl. 2 amended to include ", the penalties for which shall be the same as driving with a blood alcohol content higher than the legal limit."
3. Sec. 3, Cl. 1 amended to read "Taxes on LSD will be 30% per gram.  Individual regions may set their own taxes on LSD as they see fit in addition to the federal tax which shall not exceed 20% per gram."
4. Sec. 3, Cl. 2 amended to remove "and marijuana" (no relevance here)
5. Sec. 3, Cl. 2a amended to read "50% of tax revenues will be distributed to the federal needle exchange program established in Act to Establish Atlasian Policy on HIV/AIDS." and Sec. 4, Cl. 2a 1 & 2 removed.
6. Sec. 3, Cl. 2b replaced with "50% of tax revenue will be granted to medical and scientific research on the possible medicinal uses of LSD and other psychadelic drugs."
7. Sec. 3, Cl. 3 replaced with "Nothing in this section may prohibit regions from distributing possible tax revenues obtained from regulated LSD sales to whatever programs deemed appropriate."
8. New Sec. 4 titled "Section 4: Status of Currently Incarcerated Nonviolent LSD Users" with text to read "1. Persons convicted by a federal, territory, or District of Columbia court prior to December 25, 2007 of the production, possession, distribution, or sale of LSD may file with that court for a removal of sentence to time served.  Such removal shall be granted under this act only if the plaintiff can show that his activity would not be illegal if the provisions of Section 2 of this act had been in force at the time of conviction.  The burden of proof for a removal of sentence under this act shall be the plaintiff's.  Removal of sentence under this act shall not involve expunging non-LSD related convinctions from any person's criminal record.  Nothing in this section shall alter or affect any other process of pardon or parole available with respect to such crimes."

I'll also co-sponsor the bill.

[Ebowed]

I'll withdraw the amendment re: 'per gram.'

Fun fact: 20–28% of LSD users experience "flashbacks,"

They usually cease within a year of acid cessation.

and 4 out of every 1,000 (estimated) LSD users experience "LSD-induced prolonged psychosis."

As opposed to 50% of smokers who die from cigarettes?  Or alcoholics with liver problems?

Part of being an adult is giving people the choice to make their own decisions about what substances to put in their body.  And based on what you described the chance of LSD-induced psychosis is so small (I assume you can only get it from frequent use anyway) that it hardly outweighs the risks already presented by other, legal drugs.

[Ebowed]

Aye

[Ebowed]

Nay

[Ebowed]

I urge all senators to vote for Verily's amendment, as the bill in its current state does nothing to help the average Atlasian, only drug addicts.

LSD is non-addictive.

No drug that I'm aware of has ever been revealed to be a cure for anything. Marijuana and some others are usable as painkillers, but LSD isn't useful even for that.

Only because of the taboo in looking for cures from these drugs.

FWIW, there is a history of LSD being used in underground psychological therapy, although MDMA is more common in that field (and trials were approved by the U.S. government a few years ago).

[Ebowed]

Nay

[Ebowed]

Revised Tally on Tabling Motion
Aye: 4 (Verily; Moderate; Sam; Afleitch)
Nay: 4 (Ebowed; SoS; Earl; Sensei)
Yet to Vote: 2 (Brandon; Friz)

A tabling motion requires two-thirds of the Senate to pass, so the vote should be closed

[Ebowed]

I would like to hear from those who opposed my amendment what sort of compromise they would be willing to make if we are to reduce the scale of this legislation from legalization to decriminalization.

Small time dealing shouldn't be illegal, and anything that remains illegal in regards to the drug (not that anything here should be illegal, but I digress) should involve fines, not jail time.

[Ebowed]

Nay

[Ebowed]

Aye

[Ebowed]

Aye