Madison NORML

Today comes this welcome editorial urging support for Barney Frank's new federal cannabis decriminalization bill. Unfortunately there is no mention of Frank's companion bill, sponsored along with Ron Paul, to legalize medical use. Thanks, Cap Times. Please keep following up on this issue. Let us know if Rep. Tammy Baldwin decides to cosponsor, and if any other state congress critters support this. Make drug pollicy reform an issue!

Decriminalize marijuana
Source: The Capital Times click here
An editorial
May 6, 2008

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin has long been a leader in the fight for sane drug policies. So we hope that she will sign on to legislation proposed by Rep. Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Democrat who has emerged as a key member of the House Democratic leadership team, that would decriminalize marijuana.

With backing from Texas Republican Ron Paul, a 2008 presidential candidate, Frank's HR 5843 seeks to eliminate all federal penalties, including arrest, jail time and civil fines, prohibiting the personal use and possession of up to 100 grams of marijuana.

This initiative should not be confused with efforts to remove restrictions on the medicinal use of marijuana, which have met with even more success at the state level.

Decriminalization of marijuana accepts that millions of Americans are going to grow or purchase small amounts of the substance for personal use and makes the determination that this ought not be a concern of the criminal justice system.

"It is poor law enforcement to keep on the books legislation that establishes as a crime something which in fact society does not seriously wish to prosecute," says Frank, who has long been one of the leading civil libertarians in Congress. "Having federal law enforcement agents engaged in the prosecution of people who are personally using marijuana is a waste of scarce resources better used for serious crimes."

The American people are way ahead of their government when it comes to recognizing that the government should not be arresting and jailing people for simple marijuana possession.

Seventy-two percent of Americans surveyed for a Time/CNN poll several years ago said that adults who use marijuana for recreational purposes should be fined but not jailed, while 40 percent favored the legalization of a small amount of pot.

Twelve states -- Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Oregon -- have passed laws decriminalizing marijuana for personal consumption.

Legislators in New Hampshire and Vermont are considering doing so, while voters in Massachusetts will this fall decide by referendum whether they want their state to decriminalization marijuana possession.

Wisconsin should do the same.

And Wisconsin's representatives in Washington should back Barney Frank's bill.

(Learn more about Frank's proposal by visiting the congressman's Web site at www.house.gov/frank/marijuana040208.html.)

Here is how you can support the federal bills:

House of Representatives to Consider Medical Cannabis Legislation! Urge Your Representative to Support H.R. 5842 NOW!
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=11280351

House of Representatives to Consider Cannabis Decriminalization! Tell Your Representative to Support H.R. 5843!
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=11280301