Cocaine Sentencing Bill Nears House Passage (crack/powder)

[ensho]

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=cqmidday-000003712299


The House was poised to clear legislation Wednesday that would narrow the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

The legislation does not equalize the amount of each drug that would trigger strict mandatory minimum prison sentences, as advocacy groups and members of the Congressional Black Caucus have long sought. But the bill drew their support anyway, as a step in the right direction.

-snip-

The disparity in crack and powder cocaine sentencing dates to a 1986 law, when Congress perceived crack to be more addictive. But Rep. Robert C. Scott , D-Va., told the House that the U.S. Sentencing Commission has concluded there is no pharmacological difference between the two forms of cocaine.

F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. , R-Wis., praised the bill as “a very fair compromise.”
-----------------------


a good first step - may it pass

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Sorry, but it passed the House last night. On its way to Obama.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j9CIbN9MzReMYu4Ph-Sx-oNEIwwg

Edited to add that this bill passed the Senate in March, so on to the President.

[ensho]

2. thanks for update - I didn't know

nt