PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Arizona House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill aimed at eliminating the long-standing sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powdered cocaine.
House Bill 2720 (HB2720), passed with a 59-0 vote last Thursday, seeks to equalize sentencing thresholds for the two forms of the drug.
What Would the Bill Change?
Under current Arizona law:
- 9 grams of powdered cocaine triggers enhanced criminal penalties.
- Just 750 milligrams of crack cocaine — 12 times less — triggers the same penalties.
HB2720 would raise the threshold for crack cocaine to 9 grams, making the standards identical for both substances.
The bill now heads to the Arizona Senate. If approved and signed by Governor Katie Hobbs, Arizona will join the majority of states in eliminating the controversial sentencing gap.
Legislative Push for Fairness
“For too long, Arizona’s laws have imposed an unjust sentencing disparity on two chemically identical substances,” said Rep. Leo Biasiucci, the Republican who sponsored the bill.
Biasiucci emphasized that the change is about fairness and aligning Arizona’s laws with scientific facts, rather than outdated policies.
A History of Inequity
The sentencing disparity dates back to the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which imposed significantly harsher penaltiesfor crack cocaine than powdered cocaine.
Over time, critics argued that these laws disproportionately targeted Black Americans, leading to calls for reform.
In 2022, the federal government eliminated its crack vs. powdered cocaine sentencing disparity. Arizona remains one of only six states still enforcing stricter penalties for crack.
“HB2720 ensures our justice system is guided by facts and fairness, not outdated policies from nearly 40 years ago,” Biasiucci added. “It’s time for Arizona to align with the federal government and the majority of states that have already fixed this inequity.”
What’s Next?
The bill now moves to the Arizona Senate for consideration. If passed and signed into law, it will bring Arizona’s drug sentencing standards in line with federal law and the majority of U.S. states.
