cannabisnews.com: New Bill Would End Federal Marijuana Prohibition

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  New Bill Would End Federal Marijuana Prohibition

Posted by CN Staff on June 22, 2011 at 14:24:06 PT
By Josh Richman, Oakland Tribune 
Source: Oakland Tribune 

Washington, D.C. -- Members of Congress will bring forth a bill Thursday that supporters say is the first ever introduced to end federal law's blanket prohibition of marijuana.The legislation -- authored by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas -- would limit the federal government's role in marijuana enforcement to cross-border or interstate smuggling, letting people legally grow, use or sell marijuana in states that allow it without fear of federal prosecution.
The bill's original co-sponsors include Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich.; Steve Cohen, D-Tenn.; Jared Polis, D-Colo.; and Barbara Lee, D-Oakland."The human cost of the failed drug war has been enormous -- egregious racial disparities, shattered families, poverty, public health crises, prohibition-related violence, and the erosion of civil liberties. And of course the cost in dollars and cents has been staggering as well -- over a trillion dollars spent to incarcerate tens of millions of young people," Lee said Wednesday. "I co-sponsored this bipartisan legislation because I believe it is time to turn the page from this failed drug war."Lee has backed earlier marijuana reform efforts, including Frank's bill in 2008 which would've eliminated federal criminal penalties for adults possessing up to 100 grams.But Marijuana Policy Project spokesman Morgan Fox said that earlier bill would not have lifted all aspects of federal prohibition, while the current bill removes all federal involvement in marijuana law aside from controlling marijuana crossing the U.S. border or between states with different marijuana laws. "Each state would be free to make its own marijuana policy and would be solely responsible for enforcing it," he said.This is the first bill to repeal the set of laws criminalizing not only possession and use but also sales, Drug Policy Alliance national affairs director Bill Piper explained. Snipped  Complete Article: http://drugsense.org/url/0wT1wXWjSource: Oakland Tribune (CA)Author:  Josh Richman, Oakland TribunePublished: June 21, 2011Copyright: 2011 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: triblet angnewspapers.com Website: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml

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Comment #24 posted by Hope on June 27, 2011 at 09:41:54 PT
Thanks, Afterburner.
That's quite a video. I watched it several times.
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Comment #23 posted by afterburner on June 27, 2011 at 08:36:12 PT
Hope #20
{ I would have put "Death and Destruction" though. I can't seem to leave that out... or get over it. It's an appalling thing to have smeared across the face of my country, the nation that I live in and am a citizen of and have a responsibility to. }Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young - American Dream 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABfsIInfXgUChange is coming. Hallelujah!
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Comment #22 posted by Hope on June 23, 2011 at 22:24:35 PT
Afterburner comment 18
We have been "Worrying" these keyboards... even worn out a few, quite a few, all in all, over these years.Lol!That will be a shiny, shiny day.
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Comment #21 posted by Hope on June 23, 2011 at 22:17:22 PT
Comment 18
Thank you for the hugs, Afterburner. I meant to do that before I said anything about anything else.I love you, old friend. 
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Comment #20 posted by Hope on June 23, 2011 at 11:57:46 PT
Afterburner
"Hope #15: "The human cost of the failed drug war has been enormous -- egregious racial disparities, shattered families, poverty, public health crises, prohibition-related violence, and the erosion of civil liberties." That sounds like Hope 101!"I would have put "Death and Destruction" though. I can't seem to leave that out... or get over it. It's an appalling thing to have smeared across the face of my country, the nation that I live in and am a citizen of and have a responsibility to.No amount of Gross National Product is worth even one life that was taken. The horror. The futility. The blood shed.http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/drug-war-victim/But of course... the prohibitionists believe that these human sacrifices to pure mammon... the Gross National Product, are very necessary, indeed. Maybe it's time to grow some. To get better.
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Comment #19 posted by dongenero on June 23, 2011 at 11:29:40 PT
From Rob Kampia article on Huffington
Barney Frank and Ron Paul Introduce Bill to End Federal Marijuana Prohibition "The passage of today's bill is our ultimate goal on the federal level"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-kampia/ron-paul-barney-frank-marijuana-_b_882380.html
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Comment #18 posted by afterburner on June 23, 2011 at 09:40:14 PT
Hope #5 OOOOOOO  
Here is a virtual hug for you, my sister, in fact 7 hugs, one for each level of consciousness. I myself received at least twenty hugs as the Sunrise Ceremony I attended on June 21, 2011 [ http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread26615.shtml#15 ]. Afterward, I felt full of healing power.You have fought a brave battle to regain your health. That would be enough to give anyone pause. Your compassionate voice is being heard by other reformers big & small.Hope #15: "The human cost of the failed drug war has been enormous -- egregious racial disparities, shattered families, poverty, public health crises, prohibition-related violence, and the erosion of civil liberties." That sounds like Hope 101! Water is the mildest force in nature, but drop by drop it wears away the hardest stones. Many drops working together can present an unstoppable tidal wave that cannot be opposed. Thank you for all your hard work and caring so far. "Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God." Job 22:26 
I share your healthy skepticism and your righteous outrage as I too have spent many hours, keystrokes, thoughts and feelings on how to convince my obstinate Representative and Senators of the folly & destructiveness of the War on some Plants. However, I see recent signs of progress in their responses. Slowly, we are the small rudder turning the large ship of state. Hallelujah!
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Comment #17 posted by The GCW on June 23, 2011 at 08:39:06 PT
YES
Yes, this is only good.
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Comment #16 posted by Commonsense on June 23, 2011 at 08:22:30 PT
This is good
I doubt this bill gets much support at all, but this is still a big step. They have to talk about it. It opens the debate up some. Now only something like 1% of Congress and the Senate will openly support legalization, even though we know so many more of these lawmakers do privately. Most under 65 have probably smoked pot. Almost all of them are college educated. The vast majority are males. These people are from the demographics that have a higher than average likelihood of supporting legalization on the polls we see. They're just afraid now to do come out for legalization. It goes against the party line for both parties and it's something the vast majority of older voters strongly oppose. They're afraid of older voters because older voters actually vote, even at midterm elections. This is the first time a full legalization bill has ever even been introduced. It probably will bring more lawmakers "out of the closet." realistically this has no chance of passing or even garnering a large percentage of the vote in either house. It may not ever make it out of committee or make it to the floor for a vote. It's still a big deal though. It's still worth contacting congressmen about. It's a win no matter what and the more lawmakers who come out of the closet now the more of the win it will be. Sooner or later they'll stop being so afraid to do it. It won't be political suicide anymore, and a lot more than just fringy politicians from super liberal or libertarianish districts will be pushing for it. 
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Comment #15 posted by Paul Pot on June 23, 2011 at 02:09:48 PT:
prohibition caused the economic collapse
Has anyone ever considered that it was prohibition that destroyed the economy. A trillion dollars over 40 yrs spent on policing the drug war. Trillions more spent on drugs and poured straight into the black market and the hands of the worst people in the world to do the things that bad people do with lots of money. Then they have to launder the mega millions somehow and that corrupts financial institutions, and having tasted easy drug billions, playing callously with everyone elses money would come easily. Those failed financial schemes probably began as schemes for laundering big scale drug money. And what an interesting similarity to the original prohibition. At some point in that era the economy collapsed under serious financial mismanagement and things were made worse for everyone for the sake of not being able to get a drink when you really needed one. The one positive thing to come out of the wall street crash was that the many governments of the US were strapped for cash and had to seriously look at the question of servicing an expensive law that could not effectively be enforced. This law may not get through but it's a really positive step and with every action like this the momentum grows. The end of prohibition is nigh.
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Comment #14 posted by Hope on June 22, 2011 at 21:37:49 PT
Comment 9 FoM
You're right.
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on June 22, 2011 at 21:34:55 PT
Bingo
"The human cost of the failed drug war has been enormous -- egregious racial disparities, shattered families, poverty, public health crises, prohibition-related violence, and the erosion of civil liberties. And of course the cost in dollars and cents has been staggering as well -- over a trillion dollars spent to incarcerate tens of millions of young people," Lee said Wednesday. "I co-sponsored this bipartisan legislation because I believe it is time to turn the page from this failed drug war."
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Comment #12 posted by Hope on June 22, 2011 at 20:46:44 PT
Ah.... I sense another learning and understanding
experience coming on. I hope so."... the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." I haven't got that firm a grip on that one. But the time may be nearing that I do.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on June 22, 2011 at 19:45:48 PT
Captain
Thank you.
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Comment #10 posted by CaptainAjnag on June 22, 2011 at 19:33:12 PT:
FoM
Well said my friend.
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on June 22, 2011 at 19:27:15 PT
Hope
Faith is so important. Remember what Faith is. It's the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.We know the drug war and particularly marijuana prohibition is very wrong. We are the good guys. We wear the white hats in this battle we've been going thru.It is becoming more unpopular if you don't think marijuana laws are obsolete. Were getting there one small step at a time. We will win because in the end right always overcomes wrong.
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Comment #8 posted by CaptainAjnag on June 22, 2011 at 19:20:08 PT:

So true
Even if the bill doesnt pass, these freedom fighters deserve a special thanks. I still see it all as progress. Ron Paul's apperance on The Kudlow Report was short, but he made a pretty persuasive argument. Eventually, our stubborn opponents will have to open their eyes and realize that this plant could help to save our economy.ONWARD TO VICTORY!
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on June 22, 2011 at 19:02:11 PT

I sure appreciate Barney Frank and Ron Paul
and everyone that supports this bill and it's speedy passage.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on June 22, 2011 at 18:14:37 PT

I know what I did to cause that to double post...
this time. I stuttered sort of... double clicked on "Post message".Aaargh. Sorry.

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Comment #5 posted by Hope on June 22, 2011 at 18:13:05 PT

I'm so praying...
but, sadly, my faith is pretty weak. It might be big "as a mustard seed" though.I have quite a lot of faith in God, but I believe He respects the free will of all of us... and I don't have much faith that enough legislators have come to their senses yet. Still, I'm asking and hoping that it passes anyway. Yes. I know. Action must be taken on my part, too. It's imperative. Writing letters to the people that are my representatives will be done too. Some phone calls almost certainly would be called for and perhaps an office visit by those of us that have the confidence and can manage it.I don't have much confidence in all that helping either. At least not, in my experience. Mine aren't with me in thinking prohibition of cannabis is far more destructive than cannabis could ever be. But persistence, and reminding them that not everyone agrees with them on prohibition is a good thing. Trouble is, they, my reps, are pretty persistent in standing firmly in their wrong stance, too.We all need to keep a close eye on this one. Handwritten letters may be called for... from everyone. I will, as this progresses, tell my reps why I want them to support this bill... and of course, they will inform me why they won't.*sigh*... oh me of little faith.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 22, 2011 at 15:32:37 PT

CropReport
I agree!!!
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Comment #2 posted by CaptainAjnag on June 22, 2011 at 14:54:53 PT:

If this bill passes...
Ill be so happy I just might pee my pants.
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Comment #1 posted by CropReport on June 22, 2011 at 14:36:07 PT

The Time Has Never Been Better
To end this ridiculous prohibition. You are the man, Barney Frank.
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