Response from Jeff Price

Dear Mr.Rashkin,
Thank you for taking the time to email me, and thank you for caring enough about our community to send me your rather thought provoking question.

It is no secret that the "war on drugs" has failed. As I am sure you are aware, our prison system in California is way over crowded, and a vast number of inmates are in prison because of non-violent drug related offenses. Because of this overcrowding, inmates convicted of violent crimes are being released early. This is not right. I personally believe that if a person chooses to engage in drug use, and it does not harm anyone else in the community, then people should be allowed to do it. Therefore, this is what I believe Congress should do:

1. Legalize drugs. If drugs were made legal, the billions of dollars wasted in the war on drugs could be diverted to serious problems like education, social security or universal health care. Also, if drugs were made legal then it would end the black market funding of gangs and terrorism groups.
2. Provide funds to educate Americans about the harsh realities of drug use and addiction.
3. Become a supplier. I believe that if the drug companies and the FDA worked together to supply the drugs that are commonly found on the streets, instead of someone "cooking" drugs in their basement and risking blowing up themselves and everyone else on their block, then the quality of the drugs could be assured.
4. Establish a federal clean needle program where addicts could inject themselves with clean needles, thus reducing drug related HIV and hepatitis infections.
5. End mandatory minimum sentencing for non-violent drug related crimes. Exclude all non-violent drug related offenses from "three strikes" policy.

As far as our prison situation, I believe that we should:
1. Not send people to prison for non-violent drug related crimes.
2. Not send people to prison for non-violent crimes of moral turpitude such as prostitution.
3. End mandatory minimum sentencing.
4. Re-evaluate our "three strikes" policy.
5. Provide treatment, education and counseling as an alternative to prison.

Thank you again for your question. Please know that I am open to hearing your opinions on the subject as well.
Sincerely,
Jeff Price