Directs the Attorney General to revoke the medical license of a practitioner to dispense, or conduct research with, controlled substances — and excludes individuals and entities from participation in Medicare and state health care programs — for administering, dispensing, or recommending the use of marijuana to an individual in violation of federal or state law.

Deems a practitioner to have "'recommended' the use of marijuana if the practitioner offered advice, or responded to a request for advice, suggesting the use of marijuana while acting in the course of his or her professional capacity."

Practitioners who recommend the use of marijuana receive up to 4 years in prison and a $30,000 fine; recommending to a person under age 21 doubles the penalties.

Provides that, in any state where it is legal to use marijuana for medicinal purposes, an individual who is convicted of any state or federal drug offense shall be ineligible for certain federal benefits (the issuance of any grants, contracts, loans, or licenses provided by a federal agency or through appropriated funds) without regard to any discretion of the court.

Directs the Attorney General to revoke the medical license of any practitioner who recommends the use of a controlled substance that is illegal under federal law.

Sets a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for possessing (in addition to the current law which applies to "using or carrying") a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence or a "drug trafficking" crime (including growing one marijuana plant) and other mandatory minimums for crimes "involving" guns and drugs. Hearing held on May 8. S. 43, also introduced by Sen. Helms, is identical.

Mandates that a person convicted of bringing into the United States "100 usual dosage amounts" of several illicit substances — including two ounces of marijuana — be sentenced to federal prison for life without parole; a second offense brings the death penalty.

Increases mandatory minimum sentences for possessing a firearm during and in relation to any crime of violence or "drug trafficking" crime, including a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence for possessing a firearm while growing one marijuana plant.

Allows the mandatory minimum "safety valve" — which allows small-time, nonviolent offenders to avoid mandatory minimum sentences and instead be sentenced under the federal sentencing guidelines — to also be applied retroactively to those sentenced before September 1994. The "safety valve" is currently only available to those sentenced prior to September 1994.

Republican Crime Bill: Requires hospitals or health care service providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid payments to certify that their physicians do not prescribe or recommend Schedule I substances (such as marijuana). Directs the Attorney General to revoke the medical license of any physician who prescribes or recommends such a substance.

Implements the death penalty for importing marijuana and other drugs. (Same as H.R. 41.) Increases mandatory minimums for drug crimes "involving" minors or occurring in so-called Drug-Free Zones. Alters mandatory minimums for drug crimes "involving" guns. (Same as S. 191)

Makes serious juvenile drug offenses predicate offenses under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Allows juveniles charged with serious federal drug crimes to be tried in adult court. Reauthorizes the drug czar's office, with the understanding that the Senate Judiciary Committee will first review the drug czar's 1997 "National Drug Control Strategy." Repeals drug courts and other provisions from the 1994 and other crime bills.

S. 10, the Violent and Repeat Juvenile Offender Act of 1997, also introduced by Sen. Hatch, is a subset of S. 3 and includes a few of the above juvenile justice drug-related provisions.

Democratic Crime Bill: Reauthorizes the drug czar's office and the so-called Safe and Drug-Free Schools program. Requires the drug czar to conduct a study on the effects of the 1996 California and Arizona medicinal marijuana initiatives.

Increases the penalties for using federal property to grow or manufacture controlled substances. Increases mandatory minimums for drug crimes "involving" guns. Extends the authorization of the drug courts program. Encourages private sector development of prescription drugs to treat addiction to illegal drugs. Makes serious drug offenses predicate offenses under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

Authorizes $100 million to establish state juvenile drug courts to provide drug testing, treatment, and aftercare programs; authorizes $600 million for drug treatment for youth in secure facilities. Commissions the National Academy of Sciences to study all existing crime and drug prevention programs.

Makes serious juvenile drug offenses predicate offenses under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Hearing held on April 23.

Clinton Administration Crime Bills: Increase the penalties for using federal property to grow or manufacture controlled substances. Increase mandatory minimums for drug crimes "involving" minors or occurring in so-called Drug-Free Zones. Increase mandatory minimums for drug crimes "involving" guns. Make serious juvenile drug offenses predicate offenses under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Allow juveniles charged with serious federal drug crimes to be tried in adult court.

Allow the Attorney General to more rigidly restrict certain controlled substances on an emergency basis to respond to "public health crises." Allow federal "truth in sentencing" grants to the states to be used for drug testing and treatment in adult facilities.

Increases mandatory minimums for drug crimes "involving" guns. Makes serious juvenile drug offenses predicate offenses under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Allows juveniles charged with serious federal drug crimes to be tried in adult court. Increases mandatory minimums for drug crimes "involving" minors. Expands drug testing of federal offenders.

Passed House on May 8 by a 286-132 vote; now pending in Senate Judiciary Committee. Allows juveniles charged with serious federal drug crimes to be tried in adult court. Authorizes $1.5 billion in federal grants for states that adopt this and other policies intended to stiffen sentences for juvenile offenders.

Establishes drug courts for juveniles by allocating $75 million which the Attorney General would grant to states for the development of drug testing, treatment, and aftercare programs. Makes serious juvenile drug offenses predicate offenses under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Allows juveniles charged with serious federal drug crimes to be tried in adult court.

Suspends the eligibility for grants, loans, or work assistance of any individual student convicted under federal or state law of any offense involving possession or sale of a controlled substance. Specifies ineligibility periods: (1) for possession offenses of one year (first offense), two years (second offense), and indefinite (third offense); and (2) for sale offenses of two years (first offense) and indefinite (second offense).

Subjects all applicants for federal employment to preemployment drug testing.

Subjects all executive branch officers and employees to random drug testing.

Directs the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to require random drug testing of officers and employees within the judicial branch.

Prohibits any federal department or agency from conducting or financing any study or research involving the "legalization" of drugs.

Requires random drug testing of members of Congress, officers, and employees of the legislative branch.

Similar to the drug testing provision in H.Res. 5 which amended the internal House rules for the 1997-1998 Congress, except that H.Res. 5 does not apply to Senate offices, it must be re-adopted every two years, and it does not carry the force of law. The House adopted H.Res. 5 on January 7 by a 226-202 vote.

Removes discretion from the courts and thus makes mandatory the denial of all federal benefits for a fixed term after a conviction for distribution or possession of a controlled substance.

Reduces by half the quantity of controlled substances currently required in a continuing criminal enterprise in order to receive the death penalty. The current quantity of 60,000 marijuana plants (or seedlings) or kilograms would be reduced to 30,000 marijuana plants (or seedlings) or kilograms.

Requires courts to notify the employers of people convicted of federal controlled substance offenses.

Makes various changes to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (the welfare reform act). Prohibits federal payments of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to states that do not establish random drug testing programs under which the TANF assistance for individual family recipients who test positive for controlled substance use is terminated.

Expands Medicaid to provide coverage of alcoholism and drug dependency residential treatment services for pregnant women and certain family members.

Requires the Deputy Director for Demand Reduction in the drug czar's office to have a scientific background and be eminent in the field of substance abuse.

Requires that at least $200 million of the U.S. Department of Defense's funding for drug interdiction and counterdrug activities be dedicated to the National Guard's anti-drug activities.

Requires the Attorney General to acquire and publish an annual summary of data about all stops for routine traffic violations by law-enforcement officers. Prohibits the data from: (1) being used for other than research or statistical purposes; or (2) containing any information that may reveal the identity of individuals stopped or law-enforcement officers.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to qualified entities for the establishment of demonstration projects designed to determine the effectiveness of certain activities by community residents in coordination with local police in preventing and removing violent crime and drug trafficking from the community, increasing economic development in the community, and preventing or ending retaliation by perpetrators of crime against community residents.

Prohibits any law of the United States from being interpreted to permit or require the forfeiture of the property interest of an innocent owner by reason of the criminal conduct of another.

Establishes the Commission on National Drug Policy to conduct a comprehensive study into the causes of illegal drug use, the effectiveness of federal drug laws, a cost/benefit analysis of the present national policy and potential modifications of that policy, and the methods and effectiveness of rehabilitation.

H.R. 956 was passed by the full House on May 22 by a 420-1 vote. S. 536 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 8 and is now pending on the Senate floor. Authorize $143 million over 5 years for the drug czar's office to establish a program to support and provide grants to local communities that first demonstrate a comprehensive, long-term commitment to reduce substance abuse among youth. (These bills would put money directly into the hands of leading prohibitionist advocacy organizations.)

Authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1998 and 1999 for military activities of the U.S. Department of Defense, specifically authorizing $652 million annually for "Drug Interdiction and Counter-drug Activities." Allow recipients of federal grants to agree to — rather than provide certification of — drug-free workplace requirements. Extend authority to provide anti-drug support for Mexico through Fiscal Year 1998. Series of hearings held on S. 450.

S. 672, the Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act of 1997, would rescind $2 million from the "Drug Interdiction and Counter-drug Activities" for the current fiscal year in order to help pay for disaster relief in the midwest. H.R. 1469 would also do this.

Requires states receiving prison construction grants to implement requirements for inmates to perform work and engage in educational activities. Eliminates the option of nonviolent federal offenders with "substance abuse problems" who complete a drug treatment program from receiving a one-year early release.