A committee of Senators has been working to develop legislation in response to the current wave of opioid drug use. Perhaps the most innovative and possibly controversial concept in the legislation is to verbally screen middle-school and high school students for substance abuse. Your thoughts on this proposed program or any aspect of the legislation would be very welcome.
Drug Policy
A Step in the Right Direction
This week the Senate took an important step towards making it easier for people who have gotten in trouble to get out of trouble and get back to work. We voted unanimously to repeal provisions of state law that automatically suspend the driver’s licenses of people convicted of drug offenses and require them to pay reinstatement fees of $500 or more.
Media coverage of the marijuana ballot questions in MA
Senator Brownsberger supports the move to legalize marijuana and the efforts to put this question on the ballot in 2016. On September 22 he appeared on Broadside and Greater Boston on this issue, as well as being included in various press coverage, all of which can viewed and read here.
Drivers Licenses and Drug Crimes
In 1989, when the crack epidemic was on the front page every day, the Massachusetts legislature was among the first in the nation to pass a law requiring that the registrar of motor vehicles suspend the driver’s license of anyone convicted of any drug crime. It’s about time we revisited that law.
Senator Brownsberger to speak on panel on mass incarceration hosted by the New Start Project
Senator Brownsberger will be among the panelists when The New Start Project hosts a dialogue, “Is There a Mass Incarceration Problem in Massachusetts?” on Monday, May 4, 2015, from 6-8 pm at the Ladd Multipurpose Room at Wheelock College at 43 Hawes Street in Brookline.
Legislation to repeal mandatory minimum sentences
Many constituents, like the one whose e-mail is in this post, encourage Senator Brownsberger to co-sponsor legislation repealing mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses. The Senator has sponsored this legislation in the past and has signed on as a co-sponsor this session.