Substance Abuse

Under Senate-passed bill in Ohio, many more drug possession offenses would no longer be felonies

By
Mitch Arvidson
|
Friday, August 21, 2020 at 03:55 PM
CSG Midwest
The statistics about drug addiction and its consequences — the number of overdose deaths, and the rates of people arrested and imprisoned — are everywhere for policymakers to see.
But Ohio Sen. John Eklund says those numbers can’t tell the full story, and often fall short of moving legislators to reconsider their states’ policies on drug crimes and punishment.

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of State Statutes Allowing Warrantless Blood Draws of Unconscious Drivers

By
Lisa Soronen
|
Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 03:57 PM

In Mitchell v. Wisconsin the Supreme Court held that generally when police officers have probable cause to believe an unconscious person has committed a drunk driving offense, warrantless blood draws are permissible. The State and Local Legal Center (SLLC) filed an amicus brief arguing for this result.

By the time the police officer got Gerald Mitchell from his car to the hospital to take a blood test he was unconscious. Mitchell’s blood alcohol content (BAC) about 90 minutes after his arrest was 0.222%.

Wisconsin and twenty-eight other states allow warrantless blood draws of unconscious persons where police officers have probable cause to suspect drunk driving.

SCOTUS Strikes Down Durational-Residency Requirement for Alcohol Sellers

By
Lisa Soronen
|
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at 03:54 PM

In Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas the Supreme Court held 7-2 that Tennessee’s law requiring alcohol retailers to live in the state for two years to receive a license is unconstitutional. The State and Local Legal Center (SLLC) filed an amicus brief in this case arguing the law was constitutional.  

Two constitutional provisions are at issue in this case. The dormant Commerce Clause prohibits state laws that unduly restrict interstate commerce. Both parties agree that if Tennessee’s durational-residency requirement applied to anyone wishing to sell anything other than alcohol it would violate the dormant Commerce Clause.

Marijuana Regulation and the State-Federal Balance

By
Audrey Wall
|
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 12:00 AM

As of early 2014, 20 states plus the District of Columbia have passed measures permitting the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and two states—Washington and Colorado—have legalized the use, cultivation and distribution of small amounts of marijuana for all adult users. While the federal prohibition of marijuana remains in effect, a growing number of states are considering and implementing other regulatory models for marijuana. This article discusses these trends and looks to the future of federal-state relations in this area.

Marijuana Legalization: States to Change Face of War on Drugs?

By
Jennifer Horne
|
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 03:59 PM

Voters in three Western states – Colorado, Oregon, and Washington – will decide today whether to legalize the recreational use of marijuana by adults 21 and over, while also establishing a state regulatory and taxation framework similar to those used for tobacco and alcohol.  Passage of these measures would set up a showdown with the federal government, because the drug would still be illegal under federal law.

Prescription Drug Abuse and the Need for Multi-State Cooperation

By
Crady deGolian
|
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 08:11 PM

Prescription drug abuse continues to be recognized as the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem.  The latest “Monitoring the Future” study from the University of Michigan indicated that prescription drugs are second only to marijuana in their frequency of abuse. In Kentucky, the rate of overdoses from prescription drugs doubled among men and tripled among women between 2000 and 2009. In Florida, estimates suggest as many as seven people are dying daily from accidental overdoses. Deaths from prescription drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in 17 states.

Associates in Action: Cardinal Health Foundation Launches Initiative to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse

By
Maggie Mick
|
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 08:06 PM

A recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health found prescription medication abuse is a significant societal health issue, with more Americans abusing prescription drugs than cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and inhalants combined. It also found that one in five teens will abuse a prescription medication at least once in their lifetime.  Preventing prescription drug abuse and misuse, an epidemic in our country, is one of the key strategic priorities of the Cardinal Health Foundation.

Will Drug Courts Continue in Down Economy?

By
Mikel Chavers
|
Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 04:16 PM

Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel T. Eismann can attest to the success of the drug courts in his state. As a former drug court judge, he knows full well why the legislature continues to support the problem-solving courts even in tough fiscal times.

States Act to Ban Synthetic Marijuana, a.k.a. "Spice"

By
Jennifer Horne
|
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 01:14 PM

This week, both the Washington Post and the New York Times have reported on the growing popularity of "spice," the generic term for a legal synthetic substitute for the active ingredient in marijuana.  Sold in many locations as packages of incense, the herbal mixture is coated with a chemical that causes some of the same effects of marijuana. 

States Get the Munchies for New Revenue that Might Come with Decriminalizing Pot

By
Jennifer Horne
|
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 12:00 AM

As the costs of prosecuting and incarcerating marijuana users continues to escalate, several states have decriminalized possession of small amounts of the drug. while some consider legalization.  Supporters argue that the money saved could be better used to investigate more serious crimes and to provide drug treatment options.  Opponents argue that such efforts would lead to increased drug use.

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