Southern Decriminalization Act of 2019 – Phase I To decriminalize all drugs and stop the overincarceration of people from low-income communities
Southern Chamber of Delegates
The Bill
Following the next fiscal year, all hard drug offenses for personal or transactional use shall be decriminalized in the Southern Region.
Section 1: Short Title The act will be titled the “Southern Decriminalization Act of 2019 – Phase I”
Section 2: Findings The Chamber of Delegates find the following
(1) The state and federal governments of Atlasia are currently eroding the personal freedom of its citizens
(2) The War on Drugs has had a disproportionate outcome impacting low-income communities; particularly young minorities.
(3) Overcriminalizing drug use has allowed prisons to profit at the expense of public safety
(4) Most people who are convicted of a drug offense have a higher chance of recidivating
(5) Prison does not focus on treatment
(6) The cost for imprisonment is too expensive
Section 3: Rule of Construction The War on Drugs has been a systematic failure on every level. No citizen should be forced to go to prison, be around criminals who commit violent crimes against other citizens, and not get the proper treatment for their addiction. Government is obligated to protect life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. The war goes against the very nature of what government ought to do. Additionally, imprisoning young people prevents them from being able to unlock their human potential and utilize their human capital. It’s unproductive on every level. Treatment, if necessary, should be promoted rather than punishment. Furthermore, we must respect the personal choices of individuals and their bodily autonomy, while also finding the root cause to drug abuse. Thus, all drugs should be decriminalized.
Section 4: Reform(1) All hard drug offenses for personal or transactional use shall be decriminalized in the Southern Region
(2) The Southern Government shall nullify all federal drug laws applying to drug use, not the sale of said drugs.
(3) Funding for the DEA shall be reduced by 25% every year until the resources used for the War on Drugs are completely eliminated and returned to taxpaying southerners
(4) All police, regardless of rank, are required to stop anyone in possession of hard drugs and subject said citizen to a fine that shall not exceed $250
(5) Each fine will vary on the amount held by a citizen in the South
(6) Non-citizens, residents, and citizens from other regions of Atlasia will be subject to the same treatment.
(7) The following drugs shall be decriminalized: Cocaine, Crack-Cocaine, Opium, Heroine, Amphetamine. Methamphetamine, MDMA, Salvia, Ketamine, and all drugs that are a variant of those listed
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The DEA is required to label each drug that will require mandatory treatment for those found to be in possession of a hard narcotic.