Sens. Cruz, Kennedy, Colleagues Introduce PURE Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Kenned (R-La.), and colleagues introduced the Preventing Unnecessary Resource Expenditures (PURE) Act. The legislation gives law enforcement stronger, cleaner tools to combat meth trafficking by eliminating the obsolete legal distinction between pure and impure methamphetamine.

Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, "The distinction between pure and impure methamphetamine complicates enforcement and hampers justice. The PURE Act updates outdated rules so our criminal laws reflect modern science, strengthens the ability of law enforcement to pursue drug traffickers, and ensures the American legal system remains fair and clear. I am proud to join Senator Kennedy in introducing this legislation."

Sen. Kennedy said, "Meth addiction is tearing families apart in Louisiana and across America. Our law enforcement officers should be able to fight this poison without having to jump through pointless, burdensome and expensive hoops. The PURE Act scraps outdated rules that waste precious time, burn through millions of taxpayer dollars and keep our communities less safe. I urge my colleagues to support this common-sense measure-it's long overdue."

This legislation was cosponsored by Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Sen. Hagerty said, "The drug overdose epidemic is devastating communities across the United States. The PURE Act closes an antiquated loophole that burdens drug testing laboratories and delays justice. I'm pleased to support this effort to empower our prosecutors and hold methamphetamine dealers accountable."

Sen. Graham said, "It should be easier for law enforcement to go after the people who bring dangerous drugs like meth into our communities - not harder. Meth is responsible for the destruction of countless lives, families and entire communities across the country, and it contributes to numerous other crimes. This legislation removes outdated standards and empowers law enforcement to adequately hold meth traffickers accountable. I'm glad to work with Senators Kennedy, Cruz and Hagerty on this necessary bill."

Read the bill text here.

BACKGROUND

The PURE Act would:

• Create a single, straightforward legal standard for methamphetamine-"meth mixture"-instead of separate standards for pure and impure meth.

• Eliminate an outdated rule that wastes law enforcement resources and slows down prosecutions.

• Ensure equal treatment under the law by removing a distinction that no longer reflects the reality of modern meth trafficking and replaces it with one standard that reflects the danger meth poses.

• Reduce the burden on prosecutors and crime labs, freeing them to focus on building cases and protecting our communities.

The PURE Act brings federal law in line with today's drug trafficking landscape, cuts unnecessary bureaucracy and strengthens law enforcement's ability to take dangerous drug dealers off the streets.