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Orrin Hatch on Drugs
Republican Sr Senator (UT)
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Stricter sentencing; death penalty for drug traffickers
Hatch supports the following principles regarding drugs:- Increase penalties for selling illegal drugs.
- Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
- Support capital punishment for convicted international drug
traffickers.
- Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
- Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the US
Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test
, Jan 13, 2000
Fight methamphetamine, smarter & harder
Methamphetamine is now being manufactured in clandestine laboratories all across this country by people who are determined to undermine our drug laws and turn America into one colossal methamphetamine lab. Methamphetamine differs in kind from other
illegal drugs because it can be made from readily available and legal chemicals and substances. America’s history of fighting illegal drugs has been long and tiring, but now is not the time to give up it is a time to fight smarter and harder.
Source: Senate Judiciary Committee statement on Methamphetamines
, Aug 5, 1999
Fight crime by fighting drugs and gangs
“I will continue the fight against crime, of course. And that includes efforts to get kids off drugs - because drugs and crime are connected - and better efforts to control gangs. We need to look at ways to rehabilitate youthful offenders; but equally,
we need to get really tough on juveniles who commit adult crimes.”
Source: Senate homepage
, Jul 2, 1999
More penalties & more spending on drug interdiction
[We should] focus attention where only the federal government has the ability to make a difference-drug interdiction. [Our proposed crime bill] increases the penalties for drug trafficking. It provides bonus grants to keep prisons and jails drug-free
to break the link between drugs and crime. And our bill includes a faith-based drug treatment bill.
Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Statements”
, Apr 28, 1999
More juvenile jails & drug-testing, via block grants
Our bill also includes the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant to help States build juvenile detention centers, drug test juvenile offenders, establish graduated sentencing sanctions for repeat juvenile offenders, and improve juvenile record
keeping. It authorizes $450 million for Block Grants and $435 million for juvenile prevention programs. The Administration’s budget eliminates the Block Grants, even though these are the only federal funds dedicated to juvenile law enforcement purposes.
Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Statements”
, Apr 28, 1999
Voted YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses.
Vote to increase penalties on certain drug-related crimes. The amendment would specifically target the manufacturing or trafficking of amphetamines & methamphetamines and possession of powder cocaine, and set stronger penalties for dealing drugs
Reference:
Bill S.625
; vote number 1999-360
on Nov 10, 1999
Voted YES on spending international development funds on drug control.
Vote to add an additional $53 million (raising the total to $213 million) to international narcotics control funding, and pay for it by taking $25 million from international operations funding and $28 million from development assistance.
Reference:
Bill HR 3540
; vote number 1996-244
on Jul 25, 1996
Rated C by NORML, indicating a mixed record on drug reform.
Hatch scores C by the NORML on drug reform
OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2016 NORML scores as follows:
- C-/D/F: "hard-on-drugs" stance (approx. 243 members)
- C: mixed record on drug reform (approx. 45 members)
- A/B: pro-drug-reform stance (approx. 293 members)
About NORML (from their website, www.norml.org): National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law's mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty.
NORML is a nonprofit, public-interest lobby that for more than 30 years has provided a voice for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition. We represent the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly and believe the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana should no longer be a crime.
NORML supports the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession
& responsible use of marijuana by adults, including the cultivation for personal use, and the casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts. This model is called "decriminalization."
NORML additionally supports the development of a legally controlled market for marijuana, where consumers could purchase it from a safe, legal and regulated source. This model is referred to as "legalization."
NORML believes that marijuana smoking is not for kids and should only be used responsibly by adults. As with alcohol consumption, it must never be an excuse for misconduct or other bad behavior. Driving or operating heavy equipment while impaired from marijuana should be prohibited.
NORML strongly supports the right of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when their physician recommends it to relieve pain and suffering.
Lastly, NORML supports the right of farmers to commercially cultivate hemp for industrial purposes, such as food and fiber production.
Source: NORML website 16_NORML on Nov 8, 2016
Page last updated: Jun 11, 2018