Maine lawmakers held a hearing Wednesday for a bill that would decriminalize the possession of illegal drugs, and invest in increased treatment resources. Supporters gave emotional testimony.
Rep. Lydia Crafts’ (D) LD 1975, which is before the Health and Human Services Committee of the legislature, would repeal state laws criminalizing possession and use of Schedule W, Z, Y, and X drugs and paraphernalia. The bill would also create a Substance Use, Health and Safety Fund within the Department of Health and Human Services.
The bill states that the Legislature must begin appropriating funds to the Department by June 30, 2024 to “increase the voluntary access to services for people who need them related to substance abuse.”
The removal of penalties for possession is an attempt to correct the criminalization some substances. Crafts said that while we may socially sanction some substances, substance abuse disorder without incarceration can be difficult enough. Our public health approach to LD 1974 aims to help people rebuild their lives by providing evidence-based medical interventions, increased connections and vital social supports. “I believe that incarceration is a barrier to this goal.”
According to the Bill the Health Department would have to fund at least one facility in each county to serve as “receiving center” 24/7 for patients to receive acute care prior to being referred to other treatment services, such as intensive casemanagement, peer counseling and withdrawal care, as well as recovery community centers.
Pinny Beebe Center (D), a senator from Maine, spoke out in support of the bill, stating that it will “help ensure that, no matter where in Maine you live, if you suffer from a substance abuse disorder, you get the help you require.”
She said: “It also would make an important difference in our state’s drug laws. It would remove penalties for small amounts of drugs used for personal use, and leave all laws related with selling furnishings or trafficking in effect.” “This is a public health problem that should be addressed by the public health response.”
She said, “We’re experiencing an epidemic linked to trauma, abuse and poverty, and compounded by the lack of access we have to many community services and our continued and failed attempts to arrest or penalize our ways out of this crisis.” This bill takes a new approach. The bill was written in a harm-reduction framework, which aims to change our drug laws into something that helps end the overdose crisis and keep families together. It also redirects our limited public resources toward more effective uses.
Many people who have recovered from substance abuse disorders as well as the families of those who died from drug overdoses testified in support of the proposal. They stressed the importance of ending stigmatization and criminalization.
Rep. Lucas Lanigan of the Republican Party also expressed support for this legislation. He shared his family’s experience with addiction, when his son was addicted to heroin and overdosed before finally finding treatment. He urged his GOP colleagues not to forget the “cautionary story” and to use it to inform their positions on reform.
I understand that some of you might think this bill excessive, expensive and even impractical. “I used to feel the same way before a life-changing event changed my perspective,” said he. It’s easy for us to dismiss these proposals because they don’t seem relevant to our lives. “I know, because I was in the same exact situation.”
Lanigan stated that “none of us is immune from the far-reaching effects of addiction.” It is my sincere wish that my Republican colleagues will reconsider their position after hearing my story if a similar tragedy occurs closer to home.
There’s no clear path to enactment for the legislation. While Democrats hold both chambers in the legislature as well as the governor’s position, a previous drug decriminalization measure was rejected by 2021 the Senate after narrowly passing through the House.
Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, voiced her opposition to earlier reforms and also opposed a proposal for harm reduction last year which would have allowed municipalities to set up overdose prevention centers.
Gordon Smith, the director of the Governor’s Opioid Response Division, submitted a written testimonies to Wednesday’s Hearing. He applauded its intent, but claimed that the legislation was “unrealistic and impractical” in its approach.
Marijuana Moment tracks more than 1,000 cannabis and drug policy bills that have been introduced in state legislatures, and Congress. Patreon supporters who pledge at least $25/month gain access to our interactive charts, maps and hearing calendar.
Discover more about our marijuana bills tracker. Become a Patreon supporter to gain access.
—
A Maine Senate committee last week rejected a bill that would’ve removed marijuana from state’s criminal codes. This included a repeal of the mandatory minimum sentences for some activities involving illegal amounts of cannabis. The bill would also have required the automatic expungement of previous marijuana convictions.
Maine’s legal marijuana market has experienced record sales in the last few months. The governor also signed a bill into law last year that provides tax relief to the state marijuana industry.
South Dakota House passes bill to fine medical marijuana dispensaries that don’t warn patients about federal gun ban
The original post Maine lawmakers take up drug decriminalization and treatment bill in committee was first published on Marijuana Moment.
