WeedTRACKER

Originally Posted by arrow

Ask Congress to make a pledge!

Write your federal representative and senators and ask them to pledge to vote against legislation introduced during this Congress that would create new mandatory minimums or expand conduct covered under existing mandatory minimums.

http://capwiz.com/famm/issues/alert/...SS=Take+Action


I am writing to ask you to take a pledge to vote against legislation introduced in during this Congress that would create new mandatory minimums or expand conduct covered under existing mandatory minimums.

Right now, some 2.3 million people are in federal and state prisons, jails and correctional facilities. Many of them are serving sentences that are out of line with the crimes they committed.

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Mandatory minimum sentencing laws require harsh, automatic prison terms for those convicted of certain crimes, most often drug offenses. When Congress established the bulk of mandatory sentencing laws in 1986 and 1988 it took away judges’ ability to look at the individual circumstances of the crime. Mandatory minimums impose one-size-fits-all sentencing regardless of the fit. In drug cases, mandatory minimum sentences are based on the quantity of the drug, rather than the severity of the crime or the culpability of the defendant. As a result, judges must sentence the defendant to the mandatory prison term regardless of whether the judge believes the length of sentence is appropriate.

Further, classification of cannabis, for example, in Schedule I is unreasonably based on false and speculative premises. Additionally, in states where medical cannabis consumption is permitted, defendants in federal trials are prohibited from introducing evidence related to medical cannabis in their defense. What standard of justice denies a defendant the opportunity to present a complete and fair perspective of the circumstances associated with charges against him or her where severe punishment is involved?

I hope you agree with me when I say that mandatory minimum sentencing is not individualized and not humane. Public opinion, the courts, politicians and even economics have made clear that mandatory minimum sentences fail that test and need to be reformed.

I am asking that would extend through the election cycle and the end of the year: pledge to vote against new and expanded conduct mandatory minimums for the remainder of the 110th Congress.

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I look forward to hearing your reply. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.