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November 08, 2004
Mandatory Sentences in Meth Cases Proposed
The "most comprehensive methamphetamine legislation ever" to be introduced in Congress in January, sure to impact poor white women in the South and the center of the country most.
From drug sense weekly
Methamphetamine cooks and dealers in Missouri could face mandatory minimum sentencing for the first time ever, under proposals discussed Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., and Peter Kinder, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor. Speaking to reporters at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, Mr. Talent said he would file the "most comprehensive methamphetamine legislation ever introduced into Congress" in January.
The bill would provide $47 million toward the fight against meth, including $5 million for a two-state pilot program that would require those states to enact mandatory minimum sentences for the manufacture and sale of methamphetamine.
Current federal guidelines call for five years in prison for possession of 5 grams of the drug. Although it is consistently ranked as one of the top meth-producing states in the country, Missouri has no minimum sentences for meth production or distribution.
Mr. Talent said his bill has not been finalized but would require "at least a couple of years" in prison upon conviction.
Pubdate: Wed, 20 Oct 2004
Source: St. Joseph News-Press (MO)
Copyright: 2004 The News-Press, St. Joseph, Missouri
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1510
Author: Scott Lauck
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Posted by lois at November 8, 2004 04:17 PM