Legalize Marijuana on a National Level? It Could Happen as Barney Frank Introduces Bill in Congress Today

By Dennis Romero Thu., Jun. 23 2011 at 7:00 AM

Sign it if you got it, Mr. President.

Legal medical marijuana from coast to coast?

It's possible. Not that anyone in California is about to get up and cheer, since it's been legal here for 15 years and pot shops have flourished in L.A. for nearly five.

But think about your brothers in the flown-over parts of the country for a minute, stoners. A bill set to be introduced in congress today would indeed give their peace pipes a chance:

The bill by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), would bring marijuana out of the federal dog house and let states legalize it without meddling from the likes of the DEA.

Although President Obama has told federal law enforcement to step back when it comes to enforcing American pot law (it's still illegal) in medical weed states like California, there have been notable raids that have incensed cannabis advocates.

The bill would end that and ensure that if you legalize it, as we did, there will be no question about it, even on a federal level.

In states where it's legal people could have it, smoke it and grow it without ending up in federal prison, essentially.

This is a pretty big deal. But we don't expect a congress that shuns a dude who texted boner picks to women to embrace the bill.

Nevertheless, the pro-pot lobby is pscyhed.

Neill Franklin, a former Baltimore cop and head of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition:

Clearly the 'war on drugs' has failed, and nowhere is that more clear than with respect to marijuana. It baffles me that we arrest nearly 800,000 people on marijuana charges in this country each and every year at taxpayer expense when we could instead be taking in new tax revenue from legal and regulated marijuana sales. Making marijuana illegal hasn't prevented anyone from using it, but it has created a huge funding source that funnels billions of dollars in tax-free profits to violent drug cartels and gangs. More and more cops now agree: Legalizing marijuana will improve public safety.

Smoke on that, Washington.

Tags:

Barney Frank, Congress, dispensaries, legalization, marijuana, medical marijuana, Obama

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mikeytwice

If you support marijuana legalization, show your support and let your representatives know. There's a site that makes it easy -- www.nomoredrugwar.org

My_names_not_friggin_bob

Dennis you are an idiot. MJ is not legal in Cali. You have a "medical defense" people are arrested all the time for growing and moving product. dispensaries are being sued every day for tax evasion and trafficking. Co-ops are being raided and money and medicine are being stolen by the DEA. Cali needs this more than anyone. That being said, this is an important bill at an important time in Marijuana's history. I hope we get some support. Opponents are running out of lies...

Dennis Romero

If you read closely you'll see I'm referencing the mention of "medical marijuana" when I say it's been legal here for 15 years. And yes, medical marijuana has been legal in California for 15 years -- a statement you would read in almost any publication, from the New York Times to Toke of the Town.

Do you really have to call people "idiot" to make your point?

Dennis is the Duck

He does not have to call you an idiot to make his point but that is still a fact. MJ is not legal in California (medical or not) under federal law. Do you not know that? The constitution was written on hemp. George Washigton smoked herb. Obama sold it. It makes people think outside the box and scares people who can't handle that. People that can not think for themselves will be scared of things that they do not understand. Dennis, stop being so scared. Who are you afraid of?

wtfk

"Not that anyone in California is about to get up and cheer, since it's been legal here for 15 years and pot shops have flourished in L.A. for nearly five."You're clearly not paying attention. The Feds don't think cannabis is legal, no matter what the states think. That's why they've raided MMJ dispensaries, etc. This fixes the federal intrusion into state management of the issue.

What this DOESN'T do is make it legal where it's illegal (I'm betting EVERY state, outside of medical.)

Get a clue!

concernedparentandtaxpayer

Jesus said to do unto others as we would have them to do unto us. None of us would want our child thrown in jail with the sexual predators over marijuana. None of us would want to see an older family member’s home confiscated and sold by the police for growing a couple of marijuana plants for their aches and pains. It’s time to stop putting our own family members in jail over marijuana.

Next step: How about $100 for a permit to grow a dozen plants? We can use the money to fix our roads, and it will put the drug gangs out of business for good!

Email your Congressperson and Senators at http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Ele...

Send them the story from USA Today http://content.usatoday.com/co... and ask them to support the bill! It's worth the five minutes it will take to let them hear from us!