Barney To Introduce Marijuana Decriminalization Bill. Update: Now With Reparations
Posted on July 30, 2008
I found this at the DU, which points towards Drug Policy Alliance Network, however, I could not find what looks like a legit press release at that site, but did find it at Frank’s congressional site
Wednesday: Press Conference with Rep. Barney Frank to Announce Introduction of First Marijuana Decriminalization Bill in Congress in Decades
Nearly 700,000 Marijuana Possession Arrests per Year in the U.S. (and Climbing) at an Annual Cost of Nearly $7.6 Billion to Taxpayers; Enormous Racial Disparities in Enforcement, Despite Nearly Equal Use Rates
When: Wednesday, July 30, at 10 a.m.
Where: 2220 House Rayburn Office Building, Washington, DC
What: Press conference announcing introduction of HR. 5843, a bi-partisan bill to remove federal penalties for the personal use of marijuana by responsible adults.
Why: Police make more than 1.8 million drug arrests every year (nearly 700,000 for nothing more than marijuana possession). Those arrested are separated from their loved ones, branded criminals, denied jobs, and in some cases prohibited from accessing public assistance for life. The estimated criminal justice costs of marijuana arrests are as much as $7.6 billion a year; an average of over $10,000 per arrest. Despite similar use rates, African Americans are arrested for marijuana possession at a rate almost twice that of white marijuana smokers. Twelve states have decriminalized marijuana, but most states still incarcerate people for possession of marijuana for personal use.
Who: Speakers to include Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), author of the bill; fellow Congressional co-sponsors; and representatives from the Drug Policy Alliance and other organizations working to eliminate criminal penalties for nonviolent marijuana law offenses.
“In both fiscal and human terms, our nation cannot afford to continue arresting and incarcerating hundreds of thousands of people each year for nothing more than possessing small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. “Rep. Barney Frank should be commended for stepping forward with a sensible plan to save taxpayer money, reduce racial disparities in incarceration and focus federal law enforcement agencies on major criminals and drug cartels.”
Interesting. Democrats can’t take the time to deal with the United States’ energy policy, but, can try to decriminalize pot. Granted, I could care less if it is legal or not (it is actually considerably safer then alcohol, and no, I do not smoke it, but, do we not have a free country?) but, as usual, Democrats put the fluff ahead of the substance.
Update: good thing the House dealt with serious issues on Tuesday
The House yesterday apologized to black Americans, more than 140 years after slavery was abolished, for the “fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow” segregation.
Hmm, will Democrats apologize for being the Party that was for slavery, and was mostly against the Civil Rights Act? Doubtful. And the Senate might introduce a similar feel good measure. Glad they take things like our national security and energy issues so seriously. Meanwhile, Pelosi refuses to allow the GOP energy plan to come to the floor for a vote, as well as allowing a vote on lifting the offshore oil drilling ban.
» Filed Under ACLU, News, Politics As Usual, Socialism, Stupidity
Trackback URL
Comments
6 Responses to “Barney To Introduce Marijuana Decriminalization Bill. Update: Now With Reparations”
Leave a Reply
I think your last sentence depends on the defintion of “substance”.
This kind of bill isn’t “fluff.” The government wastes a lot of money on incarcerating otherwise law-abiding citizens who happen to use cannabis. For medical or recreational reasons, as you say it’s no different than alcohol. It’s also a state’s rights issue. If it’s legal for medical use in CA, then why is the federal government arresting people in that state who are following state law? It’s about time something like this came along to help get the federal government out of individuals lives.
Heh heh! Nice double meaning on substance. Wish I had done that on purpose
Mario, I am not arguing the validity of the bill. I really couldn’t care about pot being legal or not. I have had all the classes and stuff, and it really isn’t that bad. It could be a good tax revenue stream, too.
My point is that, in the grand scheme of things, this is just not that important at this time.
Actually, if we had the money we were spending on the govt created drug war we could afford to provide health coverage, explore solar energy production, or who knows what other worthwhile effort. It IS an important first step. If it had been a Republican proposing this your attitude would probably be different. I don’t care WHO proposes it, I’ll always be in favor of good, Constitutional legislation that supports the little guy against the Big Corporate interests who have taken over our laws.
If it had been a GOP effort, I would have attacked them the same way, Molly.
How is pot being criminalized unconstitutional? Do the Big Corporations have an interest in pot?
Its not hard to see that a plant is the most ridiculous thing to try to prevent people from obtaining, cultivating, smoking, etc….How hard is it for the conservatives who are supposed to support a small non-infringing government to understand that this represents a very fundamental right we should have as human beings….Americans.
Yes its bigger than just pot-heads and its probably not apparent what legalized Marijuana would do to their very fragile system of lies. Marijuana in itself is a substance that really can produce a sense of self awareness and despite the common stereotype of its users the mental effects are not something that a tyrannical government wants everyone accessing…Besides the fact that we would have an easily grown and non-marketable intoxication at our sticky finger tips it would represent to so many people the things their fathers were afraid of and to them thats just unacceptable…Daddies fears are mine! Well…if this country wants to take back billions a year and solve a very serious issue thats plagued more secret smokers and obvious ones than any poll will accurately show it will re examine how it deals with non-violent drug users of all types and listen to the words of our founding fathers…No drug law should harm the user more than the drug itself…This is easy to see for me but I grew up with rational parents and know that there are many more serious problems to combat right now…This is about OUR rights to do what we want with our bodies…I will not let uncle sam tell me what I can and cannot do to my body!
P.S…
Combating plants is easy for the DEA…they can go into any country and make an impact (though its more on the communities they invade and not as much on the drug shipments) Though when they have demonized plants like Marijuana, coco, and the poppy WE end up with chemically made drugs like METH…Its an undeniable fact that humans WILL get high on something…If the DEA could fight the chemical companies that make the substances used in the production of meth than they would have to look inward and would not have an excuse to go on wonderful vacations to foreign countries…When you take away pot from poorer less educated people..they go right to meth…Pot is here and its going to stay…Im pretty sure Wall-e had his.