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CONTACT: Marijuana Policy Project Bruce Mirken, MPP director of communications 415-585-6404 or 202-215-4205 |
Barney Frank Introduces Sweeping Reform of Federal Marijuana Laws
Measure Comes as Growing Chorus Calls for End to Prohibition
WASHINGTON - June 18 - With criticism of marijuana prohibition rising, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has introduced legislation to end federal criminal penalties for possession or not-for-profit transfer of small amounts of marijuana.
"Congressman Frank's bill represents a major step toward sanity in federal marijuana policy," said MPP director of government relations Aaron Houston. "Calls for rethinking our marijuana policies are coming from all quarters, and for good reason. Our decades-long war on marijuana has given us the worst of all possible worlds -- a drug that's widely used and universally available but produced and sold entirely by unregulated criminals who obey no rules and pay no taxes."
Frank's bill would remove federal criminal penalties for possession of up to 100 grams of marijuana and the not-for-profit transfer of up to 1 ounce (28.3 grams) of marijuana. It would not change marijuana's status as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act and would not change federal laws prohibiting the cultivation of marijuana, sale of marijuana for profit, or import or export of marijuana. It also would not affect any state or local marijuana laws or regulations.
As recently as 2005, no national opinion survey had ever found a level of support for making marijuana a legal, regulated product above 36 percent. This year, a succession of major surveys have found levels of support for "legalization" ranging from 40 percent (Rasmussen) to 46 percent (ABC News/Washington Post) and even as high as 52 percent (Zogby). A June 12 report from CQ Researcher noted that opposition to legally regulated marijuana "appears to be weakening."
4 Comments so far
Show AllIf it does not change the status as a schedule I drug, than it is not "Sweeping Reform". This plant has documented usage since before the time of Jesus. It should be legal to possess, grow, and use by ADULTS without restriction, period. Sales should be regulated as with alcohol or tobacco. A bill that does not allow for the "growing" or "import" of the substance provides that 'catch 22', it may be legal to possess a small amount, but that amount had to come into being by an illegal means, thus you are in possession of an illegal substance. Nice try Barney, but go all the way.
I agree with nobodyknown, if I can make my own beer or wine in my house, then I can grow a plant or two.
But thats the problem isnt it, if I can grow it legally, and use it legally , we have just ended 70 percent of the war on drugs.
All that money saved on on the war on drugs, prison cells filled with non-violent people, loss of money to lawyers and judges, and billions of dollars out of the hands of organized crime.
Damm, it just makes too much sense, but hurts too many pocket books of very powerful people.
I smell a trap, the temptation to grow pot,if made legal to use, will probably keep putting people in jail for far worse crimes than posetion.
Cha ching, more money for lawyers, and a good reason to buy from dealers.
I agree with nobodyknown and bornfreeman,if marijuana were legalized,and taxed like tobacco and alcohol,the deficit would be history,and America would be in the black for a change.
The problem with complete legalization is the money that goes to law enforcement agencies,they would lose millions of tax payers dollars to wage a war against a plant thats been around for millions of years.
I believe Barney Frank is doing this for votes,he honestly doesn't care about complete legalization.
I'm a chronic pain sufferer and the only thing that helps me at this point in my life at my age,60,is marijuana,it would be nice if I could grow a couple plants for personal use without facing the posibilty of losing my home and everything else I have worked for.
Marijuana must be legal to grow at home for a safe medicine. People are just going to do it anyway. It is actually beneficial in many ways.
Frank's reform is half-assed at best, but thankfully a step in the right direction. The drug war has been a great success for the cartels and bankers, who don't want anything to change. And Casino Wall Street and the hedge funds. Too bad almost a million citizens are in the joint - for a joint.