Legislators Aim To Snuff Out Penalties For Pot Use
CNN reports: The U.S. should stop arresting responsible marijuana users, Rep. Barney Frank said Wednesday, announcing a proposal to end federal penalties for Americans carrying fewer than 100 grams, almost a quarter-pound, of the substance.
Current laws targeting marijuana users place undue burdens on law enforcement resources, punish ill Americans whose doctors have prescribed the substance and unfairly affect African-Americans, said Frank, flanked by legislators and representatives from advocacy groups.
“The vast amount of human activity ought to be none of the government’s business,” Frank said during a Capitol Hill news conference. “I don’t think it is the government’s business to tell you how to spend your leisure time.”
The Massachusetts Democrat and his supporters emphasized that only the use — and not the abuse — of marijuana would be decriminalized if the resolution passes.
Allen St. Pierre, spokesman for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), likened Frank’s proposal — co-sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas — to current laws dealing with alcohol consumption. Alcohol use is permitted, and the government focuses its law enforcement efforts on those who abuse alcohol or drive under its influence, he said.
“We do not arrest and jail responsible alcohol drinkers,” he said
(+167 rating, 37 votes)
It took all these years for that to finally be said?!
fucking rights! now we just need someone in Canada to say the same thing. frick… legalize it already!!!
amen, its about time we got sum smart people with great ideas!
No victim, no crime, no time
12 states have already decriminalized possession and not-for-profit transfer anyway; this is the logical next step…hopefully it will pass, although I have my doubts
ALASKAN THUNDERFUCK!
holy shit
Alaskan Thunder Fuck!
ive totally smoked that
“We do not arrest and jail responsible alcohol drinkers,”
BECASUE ALCOHOL IS LEGAL!
Way to miss the point completely fucktard.
All drugs should be legal, but the public is too fucking stupid to handle the responsibility. This legislation will stagnate.
drugs r bad
“BECASUE ALCOHOL IS LEGAL!”
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH! Thanks for clearing that up, because at first I thought he was trying to make a comparison to prove his point, but that would’ve been stupid.