Post by Logan on Mar 30, 2016 10:35:13 GMT -6
Maine House approves more prison time for importing heroin, opiates
AUGUSTA –– The Legislature moved one step closer Wednesday to passing a bill that increases the maximum prison term for importing heroin and other opiates into Maine from five years to 10 years and makes it a felony to import other illegal drugs into the state.
The vote in the House of Representatives followed a failed effort by some lawmakers to pass a version of the bill that did not address drug importation and instead clarified conflicting sections of the law that deal with possession of illegal drugs. The latter effort failed on a vote of 57-90, leading the House to then unanimously accept the version of the bill that increases the prison term for importing heroin and other opiates.
The vote in the House follows a 26-8 vote in the Senate on Tuesday in support of the bill, sponsored by Sen. Scott Cyrway, R-Benton.
Rep. Justin Chenette, D-Saco, a member of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, said the proposal targeted “the people who are importing this poison into our state.”
Read more: www.pressherald.com/2016/03/30/maine-house-approves-more-prison-time-for-importing-heroin-opiates/
AUGUSTA –– The Legislature moved one step closer Wednesday to passing a bill that increases the maximum prison term for importing heroin and other opiates into Maine from five years to 10 years and makes it a felony to import other illegal drugs into the state.
The vote in the House of Representatives followed a failed effort by some lawmakers to pass a version of the bill that did not address drug importation and instead clarified conflicting sections of the law that deal with possession of illegal drugs. The latter effort failed on a vote of 57-90, leading the House to then unanimously accept the version of the bill that increases the prison term for importing heroin and other opiates.
The vote in the House follows a 26-8 vote in the Senate on Tuesday in support of the bill, sponsored by Sen. Scott Cyrway, R-Benton.
Rep. Justin Chenette, D-Saco, a member of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, said the proposal targeted “the people who are importing this poison into our state.”
Read more: www.pressherald.com/2016/03/30/maine-house-approves-more-prison-time-for-importing-heroin-opiates/