These laws disproportionately affect marginalized communities & contribute to the increasing prison population

Some critics argue that mandatory minimums lead to harsh punishments for minor offenses, particularly affecting people of color, those from lower-income backgrounds, and people who immigrated. Plus, advocates for drug decriminalization argue that such policies fail to address the root causes of drug addiction and crime, such as poverty & the lack of education, and they instead focus on punitive measures that do not effectively deter drug use.