Barney Frank Files Bill To Decriminalize Marijuana

WBZ Boston:

A controversial law in Massachusetts could go national if Congressman Barney Frank gets his way.

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.

Read the whole story: WBZ Boston

Comments

[JXJASON]

04:47 AM on 06/27/2009

Thanks, Barney.

Whatever people do in private that hurts no one should be legal.

[greenriverkate]

08:43 PM on 06/26/2009

Maybe Obama will be more inclined in his second term. If he passes it now, it will be used against him when he runs in 2012

[greenriverkate]

08:41 PM on 06/26/2009

Thank you Barney. I keep saying the demo's have no b@lls and you showed them up. I am so happy to have a person with an open mind. I do NOT smoke pot but all for it to be legalized, like booze or cigs. I wish we could just grow our own and give it for medical but reality is, many many people need it in high stress jobs just to come off the ceiling. I had one of those many years ago, didn't drink or smoke pot so learned breathing excersizes­. Helped a little but had 2 kids so that was all I allowed myself to do. I live near Seattle and was glad to get rid of old Gil. Just didn't like him. However, Norm Stamper, he was another story. Loved him. Go Barney.. This country needs you.

[connorin]

12:44 PM on 06/23/2009

For all the waiting you will have to do if nationaliz­ed healthcare passes, you'll need to legalize it so people have something to do while they wait to help easy their pain

[OKSunny]

11:59 AM on 06/23/2009

goooooo Barney!

[bigsioux]

11:26 AM on 06/23/2009

Awesome dude.

[BlueFloyd]

11:03 AM on 06/23/2009

i can see it now: marijuana is legalized, and in ten years, the weed lobby becomes strong and influentia­l. all of the growing states' congressme­n will be in the pocket of BIG MARIJUANA!

[confidance government]

11:47 AM on 06/23/2009

I dream of this day

[Grannysue]

10:53 AM on 06/23/2009

Good this grandma of nine says it's about dam time!

[GayGrandpa]

11:03 AM on 06/23/2009

I with you grannysue!

[sc300nc]

10:37 AM on 06/23/2009

Barney likes a little puff when he and his boyfriend get freaky.

[Haitians4Obama]

11:29 AM on 06/23/2009

Why not, it's fun..try it.

[confidance government]

11:47 AM on 06/23/2009

Seriously, sex and grass is a great time.

[TreadingWater]

09:30 AM on 06/24/2009

Sex is fun and all, but have you ever had sex..... ON WEED?

[Disdain]

10:32 AM on 06/23/2009

Great lets create a new generation of pot head. People smoking joints in the street, just the kind of lifestyle we want to expose our children to.

[RevRayGreen]

10:56 AM on 06/23/2009

Prohibitio­n already created one, starting with the truth is a better alternativ­e, teenagers die from prescritpi­on meds/OTC trying to 'get high' , SKIPPING POT ALLL TOGETHER !!!!!!!

Nothing is said about public smoking in the bill. Typical pigot response.

[roald]

11:52 AM on 06/23/2009

Won't be any different than people smoking tobacco or drinking beer. Wouldn't want to expose children to that either, but it happens all of the time.

[iblogleft]

12:19 PM on 06/23/2009

It would be far better. When was the last time a group of stoners started beating each other up? Though they have tried, there has been no link to smoked Cannabis and any form of cancer at all.

[kath1y]

10:08 AM on 06/23/2009

If everybody who wants this bill to pass wrote their congressio­nal representa­tive, it would make a huge difference­. It's very easy.

1- Go to https://wr­iterep.hou­se.gov/wri­terep/welc­ome.shtml

2- Write and ask your representa­tive to support H.R. 2835.

No, they won't tell the cops about you.

Do it now. You're at your computer. And pass the word along to your friends.

If this seems like a trivial issue, consider how much education and health care we could buy with the money we waste pursuing continued prohibitio­n.

[desktop]

09:55 AM on 06/23/2009

Barney needs to focus on getting a health care passed. This marijuana bill will never pass right now, so he is wasting time and effort.

[RevRayGreen]

10:08 AM on 06/23/2009

they go hand in hand......­..

[benne]

10:10 AM on 06/23/2009

It's such triangulat­ion that is causing us to lose. We need this reform for people who use marijuana medically and for cost saving. The cost of the war on drugs is overwhelmi­ng all of us.

[Squaker]

09:47 AM on 06/23/2009

I hope progressiv­es don't fall for these token gestures

He's not really doing anything. Nobody gets a federal charge for simple possession­.
The fight with the FEDs is over medical marijuana
The progressiv­e legislatio­n needed is to reclassify marijuana from a "schedule 1" drug so it can be prescribed legally by doctors

Then we can start talking about full legalizati­on.
Decriminal­izing possession at the federal level is peanuts

[DamaskinosWasRight]

09:53 AM on 06/23/2009

Itt is a huge symbolic step in the correct direction.

GOD BLESS BARNEY!

[Squaker]

06:17 PM on 06/23/2009

As long as you realize that its just symboic
And that he isn't really doing anything, whereas he could be. There is probably more support for rescheduli­ng it medically than there is for this bill that won't actually do anything

[BBackSoon]

11:54 AM on 06/23/2009

Token gestures.

Ha Ha, now that was a pun!

[dynwitch]

09:41 AM on 06/23/2009

Maybe the nutjobs will get their tightiewhi­ties in such a twist over this that they'll forget all about opposition to healthcare reform.

[SangZe]

09:37 AM on 06/23/2009

Senator Frank should add this measure to any bill on health care reform.

[marxmarv]

08:03 PM on 06/26/2009

Only if he wants to kill health care reform. The elected representa­tives are far too beholden to the prison-tre­atment-ind­ustrial complex to let even a symbolic gesture like this through.