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Barney Frank and Ron Paul Team Up to Decriminalize Marijuana
A new bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives that would "eliminate most Federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use, and for other purposes." H.R. 5843 is sponsored by Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank and co-sponsored by Texas Republican Ron Paul, among others. The bill carries a very reassuring title, too: Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults.Over the past few years, numerous states have passed so-called "medical marijuana" laws, allowing doctors to prescribe pot to patients to treat a variety of symptoms. A total of 13 states have also passed measures decriminalizing marijuana. This new bill would expand that tolerance of the drug to include open recreational use.
Interviewed recently by Esquire about the new measure, Frank was asked why Congress is taking so long to take action that so many states have pursued. Here's his response:
"This is a case where there's cultural lag on the part of my colleagues. If you ask them privately, they don't think it's a terrible thing. But they're afraid of being portrayed as soft on drugs."
Another politician who has never been accused of being afraid to express his beliefs on legalizing pot is Paul, who gave a memorable interview on the subject a few months ago. Watch it here.
So, it's clear what Barney Frank and Ron Paul think about decriminalizing marijuana, but what's your take?
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David Knowles
A journalist, musician and novelist, David Knowles has covered politics at AOL for the past two and a half years...moreRelated Articles
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Comments (545)
Dan Seidenberg
10:28AM Jul 15th 2009
The war on cannabis and our constitutional rights causes far more harm than good, end it now!
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(10)
(10) 
lrm
2:06PM Jul 15th 2009
wow never thought I would EVER agree with barney frank on ANYTHING!
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(2)
(2) oletimeyranger
4:19PM Jul 15th 2009
amen bro! anything that helps relieve pain I am all for it! ps: I was a former drug interdiction cop too!
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(3)
(3) queryqueen525
4:49PM Jul 15th 2009
I think that it is about time to stop @ legalize Pot @ go after the harmful drugs such as Hderion ect
RATE THIS COMMENT: (5)
(5) alex
7:06PM Jul 15th 2009
Finally. So much money is wasted on fighting this harmless "drug." Compare the long term effects of maryjane and alcohol side by side. Thought so! Good luck congress.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
(4) unusefullinfo
10:55PM Jul 15th 2009
Hey Dan, I agree with you EXCEPT on the part of constitutional rights doing some harm.
Ask yourself this question: If you get pulled over or get stopped by the police FOR WHATEVER REASON, would you rather have the police THEN search you or your vehicle for drugs, guns, etc., OR will you stand up for yourself and take defensive action from being searched under the 1st and 4th amendments (thus, receiving ONLY the citation)?
PLEASE take the time and watch this video, which explains both sides of the argument in the paragraph above. Take heat, it's 45 minutes long, and also worth every minute of your time (I promise).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA&e
After watching, you'll realize that all our current laws have to be exterminated, or ratified (re-ratified), ESPECIALLY THE DISMAL FAILURE OF THE WAR ON DRUGS!
Think about it. Then together, we will push our representatives and congressman (besides Frank and Paul) to exterminate TOTAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL!
I hope you find this information helpful, and informing your friends & relatives as well.
Ask yourself this question: If you get pulled over or get stopped by the police FOR WHATEVER REASON, would you rather have the police THEN search you or your vehicle for drugs, guns, etc., OR will you stand up for yourself and take defensive action from being searched under the 1st and 4th amendments (thus, receiving ONLY the citation)?
PLEASE take the time and watch this video, which explains both sides of the argument in the paragraph above. Take heat, it's 45 minutes long, and also worth every minute of your time (I promise).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA&e
After watching, you'll realize that all our current laws have to be exterminated, or ratified (re-ratified), ESPECIALLY THE DISMAL FAILURE OF THE WAR ON DRUGS!
Think about it. Then together, we will push our representatives and congressman (besides Frank and Paul) to exterminate TOTAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL!
I hope you find this information helpful, and informing your friends & relatives as well.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (2)
(2) jrb2003mhs
12:01PM Aug 1st 2009
isnt B. Frank the senator from MINNESOTA, not massachusetts?
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(-4)
(-4) mcaustin2000
10:44AM Jul 15th 2009
Reefer madness should be eliminated NOW.. How much money does it take to to police and prison people that have done the same thing as the last three presidents and who knows how many more??? STOP THE MADNESS OF CRIMINALIZING POT USERS ... surely there's better things to spend our tax dollars on!!!!???!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (7)
(7) onzaqueen
4:46PM Jul 15th 2009
It costs more money to arrest marijuana users and keep then in jail than it does to decriminalize it.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (6)
(6) ajgorm
10:46AM Jul 15th 2009
IT IS ABOUT TIME, ALL THE LIVES RUINED from going to prison over a drug they now say should be legal. Does this mean we put good people in prison split families up over what because it would hurt tobacco and alcohol sales. Is greed the reason. It is time we answer the question are these laws over greed or are they real concerns. Is marijuana now concidered a medication with other industrial uses that we should use or should we keep throwing people in prison over it while criminals get rich selling it. Make sure it does not become a controled substance subjected to high prices that would be a crime too. It is a weed they grow for nothing and should remain cheap. No one in their right mind should put someone in prison for it like these police and judges and authorities do that is an injustice after all we know it is not a crime it was a scam to control the American people with more abuse.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (7)
(7) Sherry
5:14PM Jul 15th 2009
Personally I think alcohol should be illegal. It is worse than pot.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (3)
(3) whtltwrk2
7:05PM Jul 15th 2009
It's not the reefer itself that is harmful, it is the reefer which is laced with chemicals that can lead to other drug use.
I say legalize what mother nature gave us. Alcohol destroys lives, not marijuana. I don't smoke because it's illegal, as I did as a young adult, but if it's legal, I'm going to be right there in line with the others to purchase my smoke.
I say legalize what mother nature gave us. Alcohol destroys lives, not marijuana. I don't smoke because it's illegal, as I did as a young adult, but if it's legal, I'm going to be right there in line with the others to purchase my smoke.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (3)
(3) bignani1
7:33PM Jul 15th 2009
hail hail the gangs all here what the heck do i care
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-4)
(-4) lolabull
10:51AM Jul 15th 2009
Here's the deal, and I don't understand why this is...I'll admit it, I have no clue WHY liberals want to do this? All I know is that it is an obsession with these people.
Liberals appear to want to "change" the structure of the U.S. 180 degree's from it's traditional American roots? Why is this? First and foremost, liberals have major contempt for the Constitution of the United States....no question. My feeling is that they will stop at nothing to disengage the entire Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. Again, why is this?
It seems that these documents tie the hands of liberals to a point so that they cannot seem to get around specific issues in order to complete their agenda's, whatever they may be? Conservative's live by these documents so when they are called "anti-American" because they attend say, a tea party for instance, this is completely untrue and is exactly the opposite. Liberals are famous for "The Big Spin". They themselves are the very essence of what should NOT be considered "American" based on the evidence that's clearly there concerning their need to rid the nation of it's original, traditional, structure put in place by our framers.
As for the pot thing, I don't really personally care either way but again, this is just more sabotage by the left to move the U.S. closer to the red light district society of Amsterdam.
Liberals appear to want to "change" the structure of the U.S. 180 degree's from it's traditional American roots? Why is this? First and foremost, liberals have major contempt for the Constitution of the United States....no question. My feeling is that they will stop at nothing to disengage the entire Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. Again, why is this?
It seems that these documents tie the hands of liberals to a point so that they cannot seem to get around specific issues in order to complete their agenda's, whatever they may be? Conservative's live by these documents so when they are called "anti-American" because they attend say, a tea party for instance, this is completely untrue and is exactly the opposite. Liberals are famous for "The Big Spin". They themselves are the very essence of what should NOT be considered "American" based on the evidence that's clearly there concerning their need to rid the nation of it's original, traditional, structure put in place by our framers.
As for the pot thing, I don't really personally care either way but again, this is just more sabotage by the left to move the U.S. closer to the red light district society of Amsterdam.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-7)
(-7) T
11:08AM Jul 15th 2009
For a conservative (or at least that is how you come off) you really don't seem to understand what the conservative movement is all about. I'll give you a hint, its not about disliking whatever the Dems propose. Conservative politicians should actually be leading the charge for legalization of marijuana, predicated on the belief that the government shouldn't regulate or criminalize private activities, as the SCOTUS found in Lawrence V Texas. Further, perhaps you should read this essay by Lysander Spooner about why vices should not be criminalized.
http://www.lysanderspooner.org/VicesAreNotCrimes.htm
http://www.lysanderspooner.org/VicesAreNotCrimes.htm
RATE THIS COMMENT: (9)
(9) polisci808
11:15AM Jul 15th 2009
"Traditional American roots" (if that is a concept that even has ever existed in our society) dictate, coming from a historian (myself), that the founders of this Nation AND their peers grew massive amounts of hemp and marijuana for a VARIETY of purposes. History also tells us, (not FAUX news) that marijuana has been used for medicinal and recreational purposes since the B.C. Greek soldiers used it to deal with what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and early societies in Romania left archeological evidence of recreational marijuana use. The "roots" you talk about started in about 1930, were intensified in the '50's and '60's,and thus are not in any way valid points about who we are in the U.S. Plus, have you seen the economic mess we are in? Tell me government weed at $20 a pack and decriminalization are NOT the solution with a straight face...
RATE THIS COMMENT: (8)
(8) flazhman
11:21AM Jul 15th 2009
Hey lottabull,
You're saying Ron Paul's a liberal? Obviously, you're Sarah Palin's illegitimate child. You make as much sense as she does.
You're saying Ron Paul's a liberal? Obviously, you're Sarah Palin's illegitimate child. You make as much sense as she does.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
(4) Jay
11:23AM Jul 15th 2009
Pot was legal when the original, traditional structure was put in place by our framers. George Washington grew it as a primary crop at Mount Vernon, and as a bumper crop by Jefferson.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (7)
(7) freshmurj
11:32AM Jul 15th 2009
Calm down Chicken Little! The sky isn't falling! You are way over reacting.
We are all Americans here and we all cherish our freedoms and liberties. What we are experiencing today is a broadening of democracy. Decriminalization is just common sense. We can't continue to wage war on our own population just because some people don't like what other people do behind closed doors. What about privacy? It's not the government's business what free, consenting adults do in the privacy of their own homes.
Our prisons are overflowing with people who should be productive, working citizens. It costs the public upward of $25,000 a year to house prisoners! For what? So we can control their personal behavior? It's Orwellian! We can't afford to keep doing this, we can't keep up this puritanical war that has been a failure from the start. Billions of dollars have been wasted. It's time to think our way out of this maddness. We can do it, we're Americans.
We are all Americans here and we all cherish our freedoms and liberties. What we are experiencing today is a broadening of democracy. Decriminalization is just common sense. We can't continue to wage war on our own population just because some people don't like what other people do behind closed doors. What about privacy? It's not the government's business what free, consenting adults do in the privacy of their own homes.
Our prisons are overflowing with people who should be productive, working citizens. It costs the public upward of $25,000 a year to house prisoners! For what? So we can control their personal behavior? It's Orwellian! We can't afford to keep doing this, we can't keep up this puritanical war that has been a failure from the start. Billions of dollars have been wasted. It's time to think our way out of this maddness. We can do it, we're Americans.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (6)
(6) tigerfan6317
12:53PM Jul 15th 2009
Lol, that statement makes you look like a jackass dude...
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-3)
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