In the latest state-based attempt to address ending the drug war; Maine lawmakers have introduced a bill to decriminalize possession of all currently illicit drugs.

The bill has been sent to the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. However, they have yet to schedule it for a hearing.

Rep. Anne Perry (D) is the lead sponsor of the legislation. The bill (if passed) will make possession of scheduled drugs a civil violation punishable by a fine. The fine cannot be more than $100 and there will be no threat of jail time.  If the defendant is not able to pay the fine, the court can refer the person to a provider for an evidence-based assessment for proposed treatment for substance use disorder.

Additionally, the proposal lays out that people who need medical assistance for naloxone (overdose medication), either for themselves or a loved one, could not be subject to prosecution.

As more states recognize that drug overdose and possession is a public health issue, rather than a criminal justice issue; people will be able to get the correct kind of help.

“Exposure to treatment eventually gets them to treatment,” Perry told The Sun Journal. “But if you don’t expose them to that, they don’t know where to go.”

The War on Drugs is Coming to an End

Currently, there aren’t any specific guidelines on the possession threshold that would be decriminalized. But that will most likely be addressed later in the legislative process.

More states continue to face the war on drugs head-on. Seeing it for what it has done to their residents and making the appropriate changes.

Oregon voters ended the prohibition of low-level drug possession this past November.

The Governor of New Jersey said last month that he is open-minded about decriminalizing all drugs.

Vermont lawmakers discussed legislation to decriminalize small amounts of illegal drugs. The legislation will make possession of personal use amounts of drugs subject to a fine of up to $50 or a referral to a substance use screening and health service.

The Rhode Island Senate committee held a hearing last week on legislation that would end criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of drugs. It will be replaced with a $100 fine.

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