Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008

[Sea Mac]

I support this legislation: I suggest you do too! 

https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?page=SplashPage&id=177&pagename=homepage   

 
Support Barney Frank's Personal Use Act!

 

Congressman Frank's Personal Use of Marijuana Act hits the House floor

April 17, 2008

Today Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced legislation to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. The bill, dubbed the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008, marks the first time in decades that Congress has considered removing criminal penalties for marijuana.
 

Congressman Frank's legislation would decriminalize the possession of up to 100 grams of marijuana and the not-for-profit transfer of one ounce of marijuana. It would not affect laws prohibiting drug sales or the cultivation of marijuana, and it would not affect state or local laws regulating marijuana possession.

"It's time for the politicians to catch up with the public on this [issue]," Congressman Frank said. "The notion that you lock people up for smoking marijuana is pretty silly."

The bill incorporates the basic recommendation of the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse (also known as the Shafer Commission). The commission, which was administered by the White House and published its findings in 1972, recommended that then-president Richard Nixon decriminalize possession of marijuana in amounts that constituted "simple possession."

Thirty-six years later, Rep. Frank will try to do just that.

 

Why support this legislation?

- Currently, 1 out of every 100 Americans is behind bars, and many of these prisoners are non-violent drug offenders.

- Arresting, prosecuting, and incarcerating people simply for possessing marijuana for personal use is an illogical waste of our government's limited resources.

- Each year, more than 700,000 people are arrested for marijuana offenses, costing American taxpayers more than $7 billion annually. Despite this, marijuana is still easily available, both to adults and minors.

- The money saved from ending marijuana prohibition could provide health insurance each year to 4.5 million uninsured children in the U.S.  This legislation would be an important first step towards that.


http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/barney-frank-introduces-bold-r.html   

Barney Frank Introduces Bold Reform of Federal Marijuana Laws

April 17, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Officials of the Marijuana Policy Project praised the "Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008," introduced today by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), as an important step toward bringing federal law into line with scientific fact, practical reality and public opinion.

"Congressman Frank's bill represents a major step toward sanity in federal marijuana policy," said MPP director of government relations Aaron Houston. "The decades-long federal war on marijuana protects no one and in fact has ruined countless lives. Most Americans do not believe that simple possession of a small amount of marijuana should be a criminal matter, and it's time Congress listened to the voters."

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 one 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.

An October 2005 Gallup poll found that 55 percent of voters believe "possession of small amounts of marijuana ... should not be treated as a criminal offense," while only 43 percent believed marijuana possession should be a criminal matter. Eleven states treat possession of a small amount of marijuana as a relatively minor offense – often a civil infraction rather than a criminal offense – that generally does not involve arrest and jail. In Alaska, possession of up to one ounce of marijuana in the home is legal, protected by the right to privacy guaranteed by the state constitution.

"In fact, federal prosecution of individuals for possession of a small amount of marijuana is extremely rare," said Houston. "Congressman Frank's bill would bring federal law into line with this reality, as well as with the undisputable scientific fact that marijuana is far safer than legal drugs such as tobacco and alcohol."

With more than 23,000 members and 180,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org .

[skagardener]

so would there be a legit market for marijuana? or is it still black market?

[Arcygenical]

From what I can tell, it would be decriminalized, not regulated.

[skagardener]

yeah its not clear about market. and wow an ounce for sale without geting into trouble. and 3.5 ounces to keep. am i reading that right? thats crazy i dont believe it should be that much. i doubt this gets passed. but its worth a shot

[divinorum]

Its about damn time that a law like this hits the floor over in Washington! It has been almost seventy years since it was made illegal, for almost no good reason, so we need to throw our support behind this bill! If enough people support it the mules in Washington will have to listen.

[Sea Mac]

Amen

[Paradoxic]

Damn, this is quite amazing. We all need to call our legislators and also send them emails with the link Sea Mac provided. Good lookin out Sea Mac  Genius+

[divinorum]

Damn, this is quite amazing. We all need to call our legislators and also send them emails with the link Sea Mac provided. Good lookin out Sea Mac  Genius+

Already did, and I sent out an email to everyone in my address book! Genius+ Sea Mac

[Sea Mac]

Here is a Different link to a form at a Different organization!



No More Marijuana Arrests: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/042308mj.cfm

The form at DPA:  https://secure2.convio.net/dpa/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=209

Here's ANOTHER way to make your feelings known ...

to quote the Firesign Theatre: "Right, Fred: We take drugs pretty seriously at our house too!"

The Pills Brothers: on Drugs

[riske]

This is good. I've always been pro people doing WHATEVER they want in their own home as long as they arent hurting anyone/thing else.

[strgzr]

I support this.But it falls short on the cultivation issue! I believe it should be legal to grow for your own use.

[Sea Mac]

I support this.But it falls short on the cultivation issue! I believe it should be legal to grow for your own use.

Let's persuade them to stop hunting witches before we think about growing them, OK?

[JDogHerman]

here here!

[strgzr]

I support this.But it falls short on the cultivation issue! I believe it should be legal to grow for your own use.

Let's persuade them to stop hunting witches before we think about growing them, OK?

HUH?

[JDogHerman]

What SeaMac is trying to say is first work on stop the prosecution for possession and then you can work on cultivation. Legislation must be taken is battles, one front at a time.