Drug laws, the majority of which affect pot smokers, swelled to new levels of severity under the Reagan administration, with the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences. Under the Clinton administration, the number of people incarcerated for drug offenses increased nearly 80%. Over the course of the last three years, the Bush administration has actively and illegally campaigned against sensible marijuana laws in states like Nevada, New Mexico and California. Sadly, this pattern of making already draconian laws even stricter continues today.

Two bills in the House of Representatives would enact criminal penalties against marijuana smokers for ‘drugged driving,’ if passed. Even if the individual is not under the influence or impaired, the conviction would hold based on inactive marijuana metabolites detected in bodily fluids. Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV) is the primary sponsor of H.R. 3907, which demands that state legislatures enact mandatory minimums for DUID (driving under the influence of a drug) laws. If states failed to enact these laws, they would be penalized by losing portions of their federal highway funding.

Similarly H.R. 3922, sponsored by a coalition of legislators (including the man who brought you the Higher Education Act drug provision, Mark Souder (R-IN)), would impose DUID legislation on all 50 states.

The good news is that these bills are proposals and have not become laws. You can act now by calling and urging your representatives to reject H.R. 3907 and H.R. 3922. If we don’t let these bills become laws, decriminalization will mean that much more.

Log on to www.norml.com to send a pre-written letter to your representatives. DO IT NOW!