Hey there Hillary, This is a very interesting bill you have chosen to analyze. I believe it is important that the United States maintains self-sufficiency, especially in the face of a global crisis, which is a large benefit of this bill. By producing our own PPE, we can ensure that Americans are provided the resources they need to remain healthy. This shift in production also brings more jobs to the American market, helping increase economic growth. The products can also be trusted much more since we would be the ones to set the standard.

Hey there Timothy, I enjoyed reading about your post, as I was not aware of Texas' regulations on alcoholic beverages. The three-tier system seems like it could potentially be effective, but the rules that restrict breweries from being able to sell freely seems unfair. Forcing breweries to be dependent on distributors discourages the growth of small businesses. The United States' economy runs through small businesses, so states must be wary of overregulating a source of economic growth.

Milestone 3 Logan Reichelt College of Arts & Sciences, Regent University ECON 290: Political Economy Dr. Bajah October 2, 2022 Milestone 3 Goals for this Milestone 1. What are the rules of the organization that influenced and impacted the decision, policy, program? 2. In order to be made into a law, the bill must follow the voting process as outlined in the United States Constitution. The bill is first proposed by a sponsor within the House of Representatives and, if it passes the majority vote, it moves to the Senate. The Senate reviews the bill and conducts one final majority vote, where, if passed, the bill then becomes law. Another set of rules that impact the policy are federal drug laws. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 introduced the formal scheduling of drugs into different groups and outlined which substances were illegal to possess and/or consume within the United States (“Drug Policy”, n.d.). The bill seeks to alter the penalties associated with many drug crimes, as well as potentially remove certain drugs, such as marijuana, from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s list of scheduled drugs. 3. How did those impacted by this decision have input into the decision? 4. Citizens, especially those who support recreational drug usage, are able to vote in representatives and senators to advocate their views within the federal lawmaking process. State representatives and senators are also susceptible to lobbying by particular interest groups, such as the marijuana industry or law enforcement interest groups. 5. Which groups or people are most impacted by these decisions or policies? 6. Drug users, medical practitioners, and the criminal justice system. Drug users will directly reap the benefits of the bill, whereas medical practitioners will indirectly receive benefits by gaining government funding. The criminal justice system will be negatively impacted because law enforcement will have more trouble trying to counter drug crimes, and correctional facilities will potentially lose funding due to decreased incarceration rates. 7. What are some of the unintended consequences of these decisions or policies? 8. The intent of this bill is to decriminalize the use of illicit drugs at the federal level and allow for drug users to receive treatment and government benefits much easier, even after being convicted. However, this bill may result in widespread drug abuse, as there will be little to no consequences for using and people will therefore not be deterred. Concept Questions: 1. Is there a voting aspect to this policy? If not directly maybe indirectly (maybe there was not a vote about the actual policy but the decision makers were voted on) 2. Yes, the policy is currently under review by several committees after being proposed by the sponsor to the House of Representatives. 3. What were the elections like? Are the decision makers truly representative of the group (even if there was not an election) 4. The elections have not yet occurred, and, given how divisive the bill is, groups may not be represented as well as they would like. While many liberals are in support of the bill, there are several Democratic representatives that would still vote against it. The same is true for Republicans. Highly controversial bills make it difficult to predict the voting outcome. 5. What are the compromises and being made? Is there resistance to the policy? How stable is the policy? Could it be changed with just a few votes? 6. Not many compromises are being made currently; both sides are fighting to win. 7. Law enforcement and conservative groups are resisting the policy. They believe that the bill will encourage widespread drug use and cause even more issues rather than fix them. Conservatives also point out the difficulty of funding such a large bill, as rehabilitation programs and increased benefits for drug users come at a high price. Overall, the bill is extremely unstable at its current stage. It does not have enough support to warrant a majority vote within the House or Senate yet, and it will most likely require changes and amendments to receive more support. Realistic compromises must be made to reach some sort of desired outcome. 8. Do some involved seem to have a disproportionate influence on the outcome? If so, who and why? 9. It does not seem that any one group has significantly more influence than the others. Many different interest groups are fighting for drug decriminalization, but they have the burden of proving that the bill is worth it. Meanwhile, law enforcement, correctional facilities, and others that oppose the bill only have to uphold the current laws. Change will be difficult. References Drug policy. DEA. (n.d.). Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-policy Straughan, D. (2021, June 17). The Drug Policy Reform Act would fundamentally change US Drug Policy. Interrogating Justice. Retrieved September 19, 2022, from https://interrogatingjustice.org/ending-mass-incarceration/drug-policy-reform-act/

Hey there Macgregor, Excellent post. I fully agree that this Act is, unfortunately, a political move by the government the fulfill a specific agenda that does not benefit the average American citizen. You made a great point when discussing the wording of the bill; it is completely deceitful. It merely seems like it would be helpful, but that is where its usefulness ends. If anything, this act is a desperate attempt to temporarily make our economic situation slightly less bad, but it is only making things worse in the long run. Do you have any thoughts on what a more proper solution should look like? - Logan Reichelt

Hey there Hannah, Fantastic post! I also chose a drug-related policy and find yours to be very intriguing. You made a very good point regarding the opportunity cost of the policy. When it comes to drug addiction, the end goal should always be to find a more permanent solution. Clean sites to save individuals from overdoses is extremely important and should not be neglected, but, as you mentioned, funds could instead be poured into rehabilitative centers to help ensure that overdoses happen less frequently. Medical resources should always be available, but the root of the problem is psychological not physical. Unfortunately, it seems that this policy would most likely fail, as I doubt these facilities will continue to receive enough government funding to remain clean and useful to the public. - Logan Reichelt

Milestone 1 Logan Reichelt College of Arts & Sciences, Regent University ECON 290: Political Economy Dr. Bajah September 4, 2022 Milestone 1: Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021 Introduction The Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021 is widely considered by many, especially the sponsors of the bill, to be the first step in ending the War on Drugs that was declared decades ago by President Richard Nixon. This domestic conflict has been a leading subject within criminal justice reform for years due to its effects on overpopulation within prisons, harsh sentencing, and lack of emphasis on rehabilitation. The drug problem within America cannot be solved by mass incarceration and retribution. Individuals that spiral into the unforgiving trap of drug addiction will be able to rejoin society only after being effectively treated. The primary goals of the DPRA of 2021, or H.R. 4020, are to decriminalize the personal possession of drugs, expunge and seal records of those charged with drug possession crimes, and provide relief for those who are currently incarcerated on the basis of drug charges. The bill was proposed by U.S. representatives Bonnie Watson-Coleman (D-NJ) and Cori Bush (D-MO) on June 17th, 2021 in response to many of the issues described earlier. The bill was inspired by and modeled after Measure 110 in the state of Oregon, which also decriminalized drug possession and prioritized health advancements to encourage rehabilitation (Straughan 2021). Concept Questions 1. What are the relevant rules guiding the policy? 2. Those found guilty of possession of illegal substances should not be incarcerated and heavily punished. Instead, a “health-based approach” should be taken, as it prioritizes rehabilitation and better prepares the individual for reentry into society. Therefore, the possession of drugs would be decriminalized. 3. The Secretary of Health and Human Services would be made the new regulatory service regarding the classification of substances, rather than the U.S. Attorney General. 4. Those convicted of drug crimes would have their records expunged and sealed to allow for easier reintegration into the workforce, as well as reassimilation into life in general. 5. Drug convicts will be given the resources and responsibilities to better themselves and become mentally and physically healthy once again. 6. The bill has passed through several different committees, but still has not made significant progress within the legislative process. 7. Are those rules effectively enforced? 8. Not yet, the bill has only been introduced; it has yet to pass the House or the Senate. 9. Is there a romance – reality disconnect in the policy? In other words, do people seem to expect a much more “public spirited” outcome than is realistic? 10. Yes. The Representatives that proposed the bill offer several thoughtful solutions, but they are not completely realistic. Recidivism rates are very high amongst convicted criminals, even with the use of rehabilitation programs. Decriminalization is helpful in reducing prison overpopulation, but it will result in there being an abundance of drugs readily available on the streets. If this bill were to pass, the government would struggle to regulate and maintain control of the amount of product that flows throughout both the smallest neighborhoods and the largest cities. Strict laws will need to be enforced regarding possession with the intent to distribute. 11. What is the collective action the policy is supposed to accomplish? Or is there one? Is the policy designed to favor some over others? Be sure to distinguish between actual results and rhetoric. 12. The policy intends to reduce the severity of legal action against drug users. It also seeks to create anti-discriminatory measures so that those formerly convicted of drug charges can easily access government assistance and apply for jobs. 13. Are there special interests involved? Who? Are they successful? 14. The primary special interest group would be drug users, who will benefit greatly from the proposed bill. 15. Psychological professionals will also benefit from the bill due to its increased emphasis on rehabilitative strategies. 16. Corrections facilities may also serve as a special interest group, as many are so overwhelmed with prisoners that they can barely function in a safe and effective manner. Why is it important to learn this topic? Drug use has been a serious problem in our nation for several decades. It has destroyed cities, neighborhoods, families, and individuals. We, as a society, must be educated on this topic so that we can better understand the best strategies to combat drug addiction and distribution. The problem is larger than any one bill can fix, but small steps must be taken to make progress toward a brighter future. Project Outline 1. Introduction H.R. 4020 2. Context 3. Historical context 4. Modern context 5. Prison overcrowding 6. Drug use statistics 7. Interested Parties 8. Drug users 9. Psychological services 10. Corrections systems 11. Drug distributors (Dispensaries) 12. Elected officials 13. Final Analysis and Conclusion References Straughan, D. (2021, June 17). The Drug Policy Reform Act would fundamentally change US Drug Policy. Interrogating Justice. Retrieved September 4, 2022, from https://interrogatingjustice.org/ending-mass-incarceration/drug-policy-reform-act/ Sutton, M. (2021, June 17). U.S. House Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman & cori bush introduce federal bill to decriminalize drug possession, replace with health-centered approach. Drug Policy Alliance. Retrieved September 4, 2022, from https://drugpolicy.org/press-release/2021/06/us-house-representatives-bonnie-watson-coleman-cori-bush-introduce-federal Text - H.R.4020 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Drug policy reform act of ... (2021, June 17). Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4020/text