An amendment introduced by Senator Phil Gramm (R-Texas) that would deny federal assistance-based benefits to those individuals convicted of drug offenses — including marijuana misdemeanors — has been overwhelmingly approved by the Senate. The amendment is part of an overall welfare reform package (S. 1956) that is currently in conference committee and is expected to be sent to the president’s desk shortly. It is not yet known if Clinton will sign the bill.
The amendment proposed by Gramm would deny for five years all “means-tested” federal benefits, including programs such as welfare, Medicaid, food stamps, and student loans, to any individual who is found guilty of a minor drug offense. Those found guilty of drug felonies would be ineligible for life.
“If we’re serious about our [anti-]drug laws, we ought not to give people welfare benefits who are violating the nation’s drug laws,” said Gramm.
Gramm’s amendment struck a chord with some congressmen, including Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) who voiced strong opposition to the measure. “Under this amendment, if you are a murderer, a rapist, or a robber, you can get federal funds; but if you are convicted even for possession of marijuana, you cannot,” he said. “[This amendment] would undermine the whole notion of providing drug treatment as an alternative sentence to a first-time drug offender if the individual requires federal assistance to obtain the treatment. … It is overly broad and is strongly opposed by [both] the [Conference of] Mayors and the National League of Cities.”
“Over 10 million individuals have been arrested on marijuana-related charges since 1965 with nearly one-half million arrested in 1994 alone,” stated NORML Deputy Director Allen St. Pierre. “This amendment could potentially make millions of otherwise law abiding Americans ineligible for federal benefits and is yet one more example of how our nation’s alleged ‘War on Drugs’ is nothing more than a war on marijuana smokers.”
The amendment passed by a 75 to 25 vote.
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre of NORML @ (202) 483-5500.