Frank files bill decriminalizing marijuana
WASHINGTON -- Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank has reintroduced legislation that would curtail the federal government’s authority to arrest and prosecute minor offenders, his latest attempt to roll back federal penalties for people who possess small amounts of the drug or use it to ease symptoms of chronic illnesses.
Frank, a Newton Democrat, filed the legislation late Thursday, the measure -- co-sponsored by Texas Representative Ron Paul and others -- would wipe out federal penalties for possession of up to 100 grams of pot, and for the not-for-profit transfer of up to one ounce. The legislation would leave it up to the states to determine punishment for those offenses.
Under current federal law, defendants found guilty of possessing cannabis for personal use face up to one year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. So far, 13 states -- California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington -- have passed laws that protect medical marijuana patients from prosecution, according to NORML, an advocacy group pushing for marijuana legalization.
Last year, Massachusetts voters approved a referendum that would reduce pot possession from a crime punishable by jail time to a civil offense punishable by a $100 fine.
Comment
Permalink
EmailThis blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
About Political Intelligence
News from the Washington Bureau
When are you guys going to throw this dufus frank out of the government. Between FRANK,dodd, obama and criminal organization ACORN, they are responsible for the housing scandal that raped the taxpaers of all their money.
Its time folks to turn this dufus out to pasture in fact its past time.
This has got to be the only thing I've approved of Bahney Frank doing.
WAY to go.......
IT's about time..
~150 days in office, now.
yep. the last 8 years of total devastation - its all their fault.
Wake up!
The current administration is only reaping the rewards of the path laid by Bush et al. Obama will go down in history as a great savior of this presently doomed nation. Frank's legislation is aimed only at saving billions of dollars spent on an fruitless war on marijuana. A war that has failed miserably for over 80 years! It is time to get beyond the brainwash and make wise changes such as this.
yes the gov should definately do this they should legalize marjuana and tax it instead of raising our taxes.