Breaking News: Rep. Barney Frank and NORML Team Up on Federal Decriminalization Legislation
Posted by Ron Fisher to Legalize It - The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws March 24 10:39pm
US Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) has announced that he will shortly
introduce legislation in Congress to strip the federal government of
its authority to arrest responsible cannabis consumers. Representative
Frank made the announcement Friday on the nationally syndicated
television show, "Real Time With Bill Maher."
heres a link:
http://blog.norml.org/2008/03/24/norml-partners-with-rep-barney-frank-d-ma-to-introduce-federal-decriminalization-legislation/
“It's time for the politicians to catch up with the public on this
[issue],” Frank said. "The notion that you lock people up for smoking
marijuana is pretty silly."
Frank's pending bill seeks to eliminate all federal penalties
prohibiting the personal use and possession of up to 100 grams (3 1/2
ounces) of marijuana. Under this measure, adults who consume cannabis
would no longer face arrest, prison, or even the threat of a civil
fine. The bill also eliminates all penalties prohibiting the
not-for-profit transfers of up to one ounce of pot.
NORML Legal Counsel Keith Stroup, who worked closely with Frank's staff
to draft this legislation, said, "If passed by Congress, this
legislation would legalize the possession, use, and non-profit transfer
of marijuana by adults for the first time since 1937." The bill
incorporates the basic recommendation of the National Commission on
Marijuana and Drug Abuse (also known as the Shafer Commission).
Currently, 12 states have enacted various versions of marijuana
decriminalization, eliminating criminal penalties for minor pot
violations. Passage of these laws has not led to increased marijuana
use.
In fact, the only U.S. government study ever commissioned to assess
whether the enforcement of strict legal penalties positively impacts
marijuana use found, "Overall, the preponderance of the evidence which
we have gathered and examined points to the conclusion that
decriminalization has had virtually no effect either on the marijuana
use or on related attitudes and beliefs about marijuana use among
American young people."
Similar statewide legislation is pending in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Additionally, Massachusetts voters will decide on a statewide
decriminalization measure this November.
According to a nationwide CNN/Time Magazine poll, more than three-quarters of American adults favor decriminalizing marijuana.
Alerts will be posted to this page and www.norml.org once this bill is
assigned a bill # and committee so that folks can contact their
representative urging support of this bill.
For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, at (202) 483-5500.
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7561
