CO Considers Drug Sentencing Reform

It's not legalization, but it's something

Colorado is spearheading a change in the way drug offenses may be prosecuted, as a bipartisan effort in the Senate launched a bill that could lead to drastic sentencing reforms for drug offenders.

Senate Bill 250, which passed the Senate nearly unanimously last week, and was referred to the House Committee of the Whole on Friday, prioritizes treatment over prison for drug offenders.

Currently, drug charges and violent crimes are all part of the same comprehensive sentencing system, but this legislation separates drug charges. If someone convicted of a felony drug charge completes probation and community based sentencing, the felony charge would be replaced with a Level 1 misdemeanor under the bill.