PHX Reporter

The Arizona House of Representatives has unanimously approved HB2720, a bill aimed at addressing sentencing disparities for cocaine offenses. Sponsored by State Representative Leo Biasiucci, the legislation seeks to eliminate the difference in sentencing between crack and powder cocaine within Arizona's legal framework. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Representative Biasiucci said, "For too long, Arizona’s laws have imposed an unjust sentencing disparity on two chemically identical substances." He added that HB2720 ensures the justice system is based on facts and fairness rather than outdated policies from nearly four decades ago. Biasiucci emphasized the need for Arizona to align with federal standards and other states that have already addressed this issue.

The 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act, authored by then-U.S. Senator Joe Biden, established a significant sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine at the federal level. Many states, including Arizona, adopted this inequity. Although reforms have reduced this gap over time, Arizona remains one of six states yet to update its laws to reflect modern standards.

HB2720 proposes consolidating the threshold amounts for cocaine base and hydrolyzed cocaine with the existing nine-gram threshold for powder cocaine. This change would remove the outdated 750-milligram threshold for crack cocaine, a policy criticized for disproportionately affecting lower-income offenders without scientific justification.

The bill aligns with the House Republican Majority Plan's commitment to public safety by ensuring equal treatment under the law. It aims to promote fairness while allowing law enforcement to concentrate on more serious drug offenses.

"This is about being smart on crime," said Representative Biasiucci. "Punishment should fit the crime, and our laws shouldn’t unfairly penalize one group over another for the same offense."

HB2720 has received strong support from criminal justice reform advocates, legal professionals, and law enforcement officials.

Leo Biasiucci serves as a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives representing Legislative District 30 and chairs the House Transportation Committee.

Information from this article can be found here.