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Rep. Frank Defends Proposal to Decriminalize Marijuana

Mon, Mar 24, 2008 4:09 pm

more: drug policy news, headline news, politics

source: www.bostonherald.com

Rep. Barney Frank is defending a bill he plans to file this week decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana, saying the federal law unfairly targets those using medical marijuana in California.

Frank, who filed a bill to decriminalize marijuana as a member of the Massachusetts Legislature in the 1970s, said the decision whether to make possession of the drug illegal should be left up to the states.

He also said the federal government shouldn’t have a law on the books that is rarely enforced and which doesn’t make sense to large portions of the public.

"Do you really think people should be prosecuted for smoking marijuana? I don’t think most people agree with that. It’s one area where the public is ahead of the elected officials," Frank said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It does not appear to me to be a law that society is serious about."

Frank said he was particularly troubled by federal law enforcement agencies targeting those using marijuana as a legal medical treatment under California law.

"I don’t think smoking marijuana should be a federal case," he said. "There’s no federal law against mugging."

Marijuana use is illegal under U.S. law, which does not recognize the medical marijuana laws in California and 11 other states.

The Drug Enforcement Agency and other U.S. agencies have been shutting down major medical marijuana dispensaries throughout California in the last two years and charging their operators with felony distribution charges.

Frank first announced the bill on the HBO show "Real Time," hosted by Bill Maher.

Frank’s comments come as pro-marijuana activists are pushing a ballot question that would decriminalize possession of an ounce or less of marijuana in Massachusetts.

Instead of facing a criminal record, those caught with a small amount of marijuana for personal use would instead pay a civil fine of $100 — much like a traffic ticket.

Supporters say the measure would save the state millions of dollars in law enforcement costs and spare thousands of state residents from the burden of a criminal record.

Critics, including the head of the anti-drug education group DARE-Massachusetts, say they oppose decriminalizing any amount of marijuana because it could send a signal to children that smoking pot is no big deal.

They say they while not everyone who smokes pot will end up shooting heroin, almost no heroin addicts begin with the more dangerous drug.

Activists pushing the initiative point to more than two dozen nonbinding referendum questions placed on local ballots in Massachusetts in the past six years. In each, a majority of voters supported the idea of decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana.

About a dozen states have already adopted similar laws.

Asked about the marijuana ballot initiative last December, Gov. Deval Patrick said he had to consult with his Public Safety Secretary Kevin Burke and Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. JudyAnn Bigby before staking out a position.

"I think they are both skeptical," he said at the time.

The ballot question isn’t the only effort under way to ease the state’s drug laws.

A bill working its way through the Statehouse would also decriminalize possession of an ounce or less of the drug, but set a higher fine of $250.

» add a comment

garp

Aug 18 2008, 5:10 pm

Smoking weed instead of cigarettes is just fine, in fact it might be better for the work force to take a toke brake instead because its proven that stoners work better high when doing repetitive work because they tend to focuses more.
All though I do think that there should be a reasonable age limit on smoking pot, or for that fact drinking and smoking cigarettes because for one the average teen isn’t responsible enough to know when enough is enough, even 21 year olds don’t have that mastered, go to your local college bar and you can see many barley legal’s drunk and disorderly. I think responsible ADULTS should be the only ones able to smoke legally

D.420NY

Apr 27 2008, 9:37 am

I think if anything should be illegal cigs should be. If they took joints and put them in packs at stores the greedy government could tax the shit out of those and still get their money. That way it would be legal for us, and money for them. Everybody's happy, everybody wins.

I'm just glad there is finally a congressman with enough guts to stand up and say what most of them have got to be thinking. I'm 23 now and I started smoking so long ago I don't even remember how old I was, so how many represenatives do you really think are out there that haven't done it?

hmmm

Apr 22 2008, 10:35 am

Keep it illegal so the price stays high, can't make money if they are selling it at a gas station for $20.00 a 1/4! What about all the high school dealers? There aren't enough fast food jobs to go around! Many of the 1MM (U.S.) school dealers will have to turn to holding up KFC's and stuff. I think it will lead to more crime. Maybe something else will come along that they'll make illegal so I can make easy money off that? I hope so!

bud smokerno.10000000

Apr 21 2008, 4:34 pm

evry time i get a good connect the pigs always fuck it up
evry dealer i had punk police hits him up then i have to fined a new connect they shud leagaliz it cuz i have issus
wit anger and if i dont have my haze ill probly kill somebody, when im high im harmless!!!

jimjomhitabong

Apr 20 2008, 9:32 am

i suffer from md i know that weed can help peaple i smoke every day im 23 and was not soppudes to live to 18

I love weed

Mar 29 2008, 5:44 pm

I can't wait for her to be legal... she's old enough, but somehow she's still illegal, she's like 500,000 years old i bet, or at least 18,000 years old, but she doesn't have id cause the court won't issue her one, she's illegal, for now, and she's in jail half the time, but she is innocent, the pigs are corrupt and hate her, and the people in charge look the other way, well I say thats fucked up, and they need to set her free, and make her legal, so we can all enjoy her presence guilt free... Free the weed!!!

421mybdaywaslate?

Mar 28 2008, 12:06 am

the black market may only take money but if it was legal an you need id oh no im not of age o wait ill just go grow it, its just a freakin plant. it will just set guidelines people break anyway truth is most people are gonna do it as much as they want if they want i started at 14

TCB...re: umm dos lol

Mar 28 2008, 12:00 am

Was it something I said? If you could tell me what it was that offended you, maybe I could ease your troubled mind with a constructive reply. Or maybe there's another person posting as TCB. Anyway, saying "FUCK YOU" doesn't mean much if it's not put in any kind of context, so I can't even be offended, just puzzled as to your motivation. Try to be more specific with your insults in the future.

theo

Mar 27 2008, 12:52 am

well then there is the marlboro man and then the house of tudor, windorsor, but then divided by the 7th day catholics, you never know what to do, by the way has anyone heard of this scavvy rat bisterd Drak Boi Da Ottende, or Dirk Boe VIII

HU210

Mar 26 2008, 8:31 pm

Old enough to vote,old enough to consume cannabis

sirsmokesalot

Mar 26 2008, 7:44 pm

Kick ass Mr. Frank, It's about time somone pulled their head out in Washington, maybe it will become contagious, but I dought it.
People , as much as I wish pot would be made legal, and I would stand up with this guy and anyone else to justify our cause, I don't think it will be. And the reason is MONEY , PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Even though states may save money in law enforcement costs , thats baby shit to what they make by keeping it illegal. The feds made 1.2 billion last year just in , and get this , urine test subsidies , thats no shit either. If they make that much in used piss , can you imagine what the rest of the bullshit brings in. It's absolutly staggering and I don't see those communist pigs ever giing that up. They don't care about US, just our money and we are all slaves to their system.
FOR NOW.

Slater

Mar 26 2008, 7:25 pm

Yeah I just read what Okla420
had to say. Im going to have to say, 18 and up for drinking and smoking.

Slater

Mar 26 2008, 7:24 pm

Its not hurting 16 year olds who smoke it, I mean, people should be able to smoke at it at any age they desire.
Right to the pursuit of happiness.

kids ARE doing things

Mar 26 2008, 1:14 am

like drink, and sniff glue or whippits, or smoking cigartetts, instead of smoking pot, thats waaaay better, if pot was legal there would be alot less of that, because all that stuff is stupid, pot, is, not so bad.

Okla420

Mar 26 2008, 12:27 am

I understand all that completely. I smoked weed every day in high school. I smoked too much weed in high school, as a matter of fact. My friends and I cut classes and I missed out on a lot of cool shit because I smoked.

Now before I get flamed here let me state that I know not every kid that goes and smokes pot is going to cut classes, get in trouble ect. ect. because there were a few really smart kids I knew/know who smoked on occasion..

I get your point that being young these days is stressful.. but you know what? Life is stressful. It definitely doesn't get any easier after high school either.

All in all I say 21 + for weed still. If not that it should at least be 18 +. Kids tend to do too many stupid things as it is, without pot.

Jay

Mar 25 2008, 10:24 pm

Yeah most of us started smoking at 16 but i would never want it legalized for a under 18, since I know no one would support a bill like that.

well,

Mar 25 2008, 9:07 pm

teens get stressed out too, think of all the homework and learning to drive and bitchy parents and social pressures at school and even work for some of them, I say if 16 is old enough to drive a car, then 16 is old enough to smoke a joint, thats about when i started smoking pot, and it kept me from killin' myself, not to get all dark and depressing on ya, but really, it let me escape the darkness and laugh at things, not forcing me to laugh like its laughing gas, but Letting me laugh when all i could think about is the bad things, it let my mind drift tward funny things instead, and for a while i forgot i was depressed, and even when i remembered why i was feeling bad i was ok, because i was still laughing at a stupid tv ad or something like that, and I wasn't stuck in the darkness anymore, I was free to feel happy again... anyway, yeah, 16 is old enough to smoke, to me.

okla420

Mar 25 2008, 8:53 pm

How many sixteen year olds do you know that consider ganja a "sacramental" drug Slater?

I guess if sacramental is smoking a cigarello and eating too many cheetos I guess that would cover just about every teenage pothead.

I'm all for 21+, just like booze.

umm

Mar 25 2008, 8:24 pm

I think the problem is with the notion that we should be governed by lore. Folklore and myth is what the laws of prohibition come from.

MyZong_is_MyFriend

Mar 25 2008, 5:31 pm

I have to agree with MassHaze, anybody could use that argument and win votes. But we just gotta take baby steps.

Slater

Mar 25 2008, 3:16 pm

420VIPER:
Its not fare to put a age limit on a sacramental drug that helps people of all ages, gender, and ethnicity.

420Viper

Mar 25 2008, 8:41 am

First of all, thank you very much Congressman Frank.

Second of all, about the children. I was smoking cigarettes and drinking beer in High School months before I had my first smoke of weed. Why aren't tobacco and alcohol considered gateway drugs? How many die of alcohol and tobacco use every day? What do we tell the children?

Simple. Tell the kids these are adult thing and activities and legalize grass so one has to prove they are 21+ years old to buy it. The last time I checked, the black market only asks for money, not ID.

SmoKinTheIndustry

Mar 25 2008, 3:11 am

PARTY POOL HOOKAH! SMOKE HOOKAHS WHILE CHILLIN IN YOUR SWIMMING POOL OR HOT TUB! 3 SIZES AVAILABLE!

smokintheindustry (MySpace)

FINALLY

Mar 25 2008, 1:22 am

SOMEONE HAS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE, NOW WE ALL NEED TO STAND BEHIND HIM!

wheres waldo

Mar 24 2008, 11:11 pm

lets make giving or selling to minors a HUGE penalty like 5 years manditory but everyone else gets to have it. Is it for the kids now? laugh out loud.

wheres waldo

Mar 24 2008, 11:09 pm

suggs4drugs said it all. there are special interests involved and they are scared shittless because they could lose their positions. Why dont we have medical marijuana dispensaries pay the DEA for security or something? than those crooked fucks get their checks and we all get to live life.

truth

Mar 24 2008, 10:50 pm

THE GOVERNMENT DOESNT CARE ABOUT THEIR MEANINGLESS PAPER.THEY CARE ABOUT DEATH,VIOLENCE,RAPE,MURDER,ENSLAVEMENT,&GENOCIDE.WE LIVE IN CHAOS.PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN A FUCKIN FANTASY,WHEN THEY THINK THEY NEED MONEY TO SURVIVE.FUCK MONEY!!ALL WE NEED ARE PLANTS.THERE IS A PLANT FOR EVERYTHING.FUCK THE GOVERNMENT!!!!!!!!WE DONT NEED THEM.STOP PLAYING IN THEIR SICK FUCKIN GAME.PEOPLE ARE SO FUCKIN INDUSTRIALIZED.WE DONT NEED MONEY TO EAT.ALL WE FUCKIN NEED IS EARTH.IT FEEDS US.WAKE THE FUCK UP PEOPLE.WE ARE DESTINED TO LIVE IN THIS REPEAT.THE SAME OLD BULLSHIT.IF PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO SEE A CHANGE WE HAVE TO STOP PLAYING THEIR GAME THROW THE MONEY OUT THE WINDOW.DONT PLAY THE REAL LIFE MONOPLY.WE MUST RISE AGAINST THE POWER.WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!STOP FEARING THEIR THREATS.ITS OUR LIFE,WHY LIVE IN ENSLAVEMENT!

Suggs4Drugs

Mar 24 2008, 9:17 pm

For the children?
They suspend 3rd graders for sexual harrasment.
They expell 2nd graders for making a play gun out of paper.
They suspend 4th graders for taking a chicken strip and pointing it at a teacher and saying bang.
Fuck our hypersensitive society. No one cares for the children. Its like I said, the Government doesnt care about the people, it cares about money.
A friend of mines kid was kicking the school bus drivers seat (He's 6), so the bus driver calls the police, the police PUT THE 6 YEAR OLD IN HANDCUFFS, take him to the police station where his parents have to pick him up. HES FUCKING 6!!!
Its bullshit.

MassHaze

Mar 24 2008, 8:10 pm

hey, you can see their baseless argument again! You can firmly count on any agency who doesnt have full-blown facts and data to support their opinion to just cite "ITS FOR THE CHILDREN!!!!" as soon as they can. It is so perfect of an arguing technique it should be outlawed.

Just think: Everyone understands the impressionability of kids, and no one wants to seem like a child-killer. Anyone can say "its for the children" and gain votes for their side without any real support for their claims. Go against their idea, and you are a baby-killer. They do it with gun control, too.

Suggs4Drugs

Mar 24 2008, 7:21 pm

Statistics show that where Marijuana is legal, it is often less used. Haha, someone should tell that to all the moms are fuckin idiots.
But good luck on this Bill.
But we shouldnt be surprised when it is shot down in office. Remember, the Government doesnt give a shit about the people, so why should we expect them to legalize something we enjoy.

umm

Mar 24 2008, 4:55 pm

Save the kids? From what, an uncontrolable smile. Oh wow! Heavan forbid!

kinder

Mar 24 2008, 4:33 pm

once again, let's save the kids BS.

umm dos lol

Mar 24 2008, 4:29 pm

"it could send a signal to children that smoking pot is no big deal."

Lol, they mean it can send the right signal?

At least this Barney Frank guy isnt a government tool and knows the way things SHOULD be.

ohhhh and FUCK YOU TCB

CSMP

Mar 24 2008, 4:28 pm

The Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy (CSMP) today applauded U.S. Rep. Barney Frank's (D-4th MA) announcement that he would introduce federal marijuana decriminalization legislation that parallels CSMP's statewide effort to create sound marijuana policies.

"The Massachusetts Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy is proud to be moving forward on the state level to create a sound marijuana policy while Congressman Frank tackles this issue in the nation’s capital," said Whitney A. Taylor, CSMP campaign manager. "The people of Massachusetts are ready for a proven, practical marijuana policy, which is reflected in the efforts of both Congressman Frank and CSMP."

By creating a civil penalty system for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, CSMP's initiative will greatly reduce the human and financial costs of current laws. According to Harvard economist Dr. Jeff Miron, Massachusetts’ taxpayers spend $29.5 million a year just to arrest and book offenders who possess an ounce or less of marijuana.

This arrest can result in up to six months in jail and a $500 fine, but more costly is the creation of a criminal record — or CORI — for these offenders. A CORI can essentially mean a lifetime of punishment, making an individual ineligible for student loans, creating barriers to employment, and banning smalltime marijuana violators from many housing opportunities, Taylor said.

Last year, over 7,500 Bay Staters received a CORI and endless barriers to a successful life for personal possession of an ounce or less of marijuana.

"This commonsense approach to marijuana possession will create huge savings, both human and financial," Taylor said. "Thousands of individuals will be able to move on to lead productive lives, while over $29 million a year can stay in local community coffers — it is a win-win for Massachusetts."