Prop 36 aims to force drug offenders into treatment. Would it help solve homelessness?

Mayor Matt Mahan argues that Proposition 36 is a crucial step to address California's homelessness and addiction crises, not just improving retail crime laws. With the power to mandate treatment for low-level drug offenses, it offers a proactive approach to help those struggling with addiction and mental health issues, marking a necessary intervention when societal behaviors pose a threat to community safety.

The proposition aims to amend some aspects of Proposition 47, a 2014 reform measure that lessened penalties for drug possession and theft. Critics worry that rerouting resources back to penal measures will exacerbate the ongoing challenges facing drug and mental health services statewide, questioning whether punitive approaches do anything to resolve the real underlying issues of addiction and homelessness.

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