(Politics) Barney Frank Introduces Legislation To Decriminalize Marijuana

[paularoid]

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/barney-frank-introduces-legislation-d

Barney Frank Introduces Legislation To Decriminalize Marijuana
from Crooks and Liars by Nicole Belle

http://static.crooksandliars.com/files/uploads/2009/06/barney_frank_31544.jpg

Duuuuuuuude: (http://wbztv.com/local/marijuana.federal.penalty.2.1052437.html)


(Massachusetts Congressman Barney) Frank has filed a bill that would eliminate federal penalties for personal possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana.

It would also make the penalty for using marijuana in public just $100.

"I think John Stuart Mill had it right in the 1850s," said Congressman Frank, "when he argued that individuals should have the right to do what they want in private, so long as they don't hurt anyone else. It's a matter of personal liberty. Moreover, our courts are already stressed and our prisons are over-crowded. We don't need to spend our scarce resources prosecuting people who are doing no harm to others."

Frank filed a similar bill last year, but it failed.

The law passed in Massachusetts (http://wbztv.com/local/marijuana.massachusetts.pot.2.859723.html) last November.

Given the general timidity of the majority party and the hay that most certainly would be made by the minority party, I don't have much hope that this sensible and long-due bill will succeed, but more power to Barney Frank.

[Sara]

More power to Barney Frank and Massachusetts! I'd take it one step further, myself, and remove any penalty whatsoever. If they asked me (which they won't), I'd have marijuana treated more like alcohol and cigarettes, making it legal for adults. I agree with you, Paul, that there is not a great chance that the Massachusetts law will become the model for a revamping at the Federal level. (At least, not in our lifetimes.) But we can dream, can't we?

[hoops]

look what happened with gay marriage
peace
hoops

[paularoid]

look what happened with gay marriage
peace
hoops
Or perhaps more correctly, look what is happening (as we speak) with gay marriage right now. It's not totally there yet but I can't see that it'll be much longer.

Is this a strange or odd way for a strictly straight hetero to be? :p <shrug>



.

[DaveM]

This world might well be a far more comfortable place if there were more married gay pot smokers. After the bluenoses realize that the end of the world has not come to pass, the rest of us can indulge as well.

Never have had much interest in "weed", but I've also never really seen much if any harm come to those who use it in moderation. I certainly can't say that about several quite legal mood altering substances.

And as far as that line about gay marriage "destroying the sanctity of the institution", I think certain heteros on reality TV shows are doing far more along those lines than anyone else could if they tried.

Nice to know that someone else has read John Stuart Mill, mind. Our President, to my mind, could benefit somewhat by brushing up on Utilitarianism.

[hoops]

but why give to the "common folk" what the princes and thieves are allowed
peace
hoops

[DaveM]

When you put it that way, Hoops, it does take a lot of fun out of the idea.

I have often wondered how many people would bother to smoke marijuana if it was legal.

[paularoid]

When you put it that way, Hoops, it does take a lot of fun out of the idea.

I have often wondered how many people would bother to smoke marijuana if it was legal.
30 years ago I would've. I've grown up since then though. I might even do it now as long as I didn't have anything else to do for an extended period of time. One of the reasons I quit is because it became cost prohibitive. I remember when it was measured and sold by "fingers" rather than ounces or more recently grams. A five finger bag cost $10 and that was the standard for a -long- time around here. Another reason I quit is because I've got things to do other than sitting around being stoned. When I got stoned you might as well have just put me to bed and turned the stereo on with some Pink Floyd and let me get over it. I couldn't do squat when I was stoned. :p

[DaveM]

Have to confess that I used to do much the same thing with alcohol. Pink Floyd just doesn't have the same meaning when you're sober, though I do still enjoy a number of their albums.

Of course, if you turn "The Wall" up loud enough, you won't need drugs.

[GodSistah]

Of course, if you turn "The Wall" up loud enough, you won't need drugs.


Ahh...what a great album!!!

;)

[Orphan of the Road]

A show of hands please.

IF pot (or coke or heroin or meth) were suddenly legal and available at $10-a-pound, how many would rush out and buy some?

Hmmm, I thought so.

With the gaps in taxes and government expenses, taxation and legalization is getting some heavy pushes.

Springfield and West Plains, MO have ballot issues which would decriminalize possession of up to 3.5-ounces. Springfield, not so unusual as it is a college town. West Plains though is thumper/winger country (and home of the singin' butcher Porter Wagoner).

[hoops]

tell me to shut up
peace
hoops

[DaveM]

My thoughts exactly, Orphan. I got into plenty of trouble with cheap vodka at $12 or so per half gallon. Can't imagine ever again rushing out to buy any intoxicant. Though I have no quarrel with anyone who does as long as I don't have to share the road with them.

Mind, I'd love to own a vending machine route in a locale where marijuana was $10 per pound.

[paularoid]

A show of hands please.

IF pot (or coke or heroin or meth) were suddenly legal and available at $10-a-pound, how many would rush out and buy some?

Hmmm, I thought so.


I don't think that's at all a good example of choices because -I- don't feel that you can put pot and coke and heroin and meth all in the same class, not in the least.

If it was the pot that was suddenly legal then I probably would rush out and buy some. As for the others, even though I've partaken of them in the very distant past there's no way in hell I'd go out and get any of it. They're all too dangerous - at any price or even at no price. I snorted the coke and smoked the others because there was no way in hell that I was going to stick a needle in myself to partake of them. I've nursed others through the bad times that -did- shoot up though and eventually it proved to be their undoing because none of them are alive now. I've never known or heard of anybody having a bad time due to pot except for -one- person that's allergic to it.

Again, I think it's a huge mistake to even think about putting pot, cocaine, heroin and meth all in the same group where they quite obviously do -not- belong.

Scientific FACT - pot is not physically addictive. It can be mentally and/or emotionally addictive,... in which case you need to see a shrink to deal with the problems that you're using pot as tool to escape from.
Scientific FACT - cocaine, heroin, and meth are physically addictive.