Congressman Frank's Personal Use of Marijuana Act hits the House floor

[DeclinetoState]

April 17, 2008

Today Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced legislation to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. The bill, dubbed the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008, marks the first time in decades that Congress has considered removing criminal penalties for marijuana.

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Why support this legislation?

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- The money saved from ending marijuana prohibition could provide health insurance each year to 4.5 million uninsured children in the U.S. This legislation would be an important first step towards that.
More (https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?page=SplashPage&id=177&pagename=homepage)

[MaximumSam]

More (https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?page=SplashPage&id=177&pagename=homepage)

In Ohio, Possession of Marijuana is a minor misdemeanor, punishable only by a fine. However, Possession of Drug Paraphenalia is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, punishable by up to 30 days in jail. So, if cops find a person with weed, they typically will charge them with both. Even of possession of the weed is only worth a fine, the baggie it gets carried in can land you 30 days in the hole.

[Kathy30]

Why oppose this legislation? You don't want to live in a society of stoners is a good reason.

You might never hear of John Tafoya. It didn't make much of a splash in the news beyond local and not much of that. John Tafoya liked to smoke pot once in a while. He liked to smoke pot and if he had someplace to go, he'd get in his car and go. He was arrested numerous times for driving under the influence and finally agreed to enter rehab instead of going to jail. While he was attending rehab, he continued to smoke pot. He liked it. He never hurt anyone. It was no one's business what he did in the privacy of his own home. He smoked his pot, decided to run out for a burger and crashed into another car. He killed a man, his son and left another child in critical condition. He was high when he was arrested.

John Tafoya was tried and sentenced to 40 years. He doesn't understand why he got such a harsh sentence. It was an accident, suppose he had been drunk instead. But he wasn't drunk. He was high on marijuana. I'll admit, I had no sympathy for John Tafoya. He should have been in prison for smoking pot long ago. That family would still be alive. For some reason, I did have some sympathy for Tafoya's father who was sobbing in the courtroom knowing that the possibility of his living to see his son a free man was not to be. He didn't understand either. Why is his son being punished so harshly for smoking pot something that should be legal. Even if it was legal, would that mean these people would still be alive?

I hope that Frank's bill goes the same way his gay brothel went.

[EveningStar]

Frank aside, it's high time that we strode toward drug decriminalization.

As for the people who oppose it, just follow the money.

[EveningStar]

Why oppose this legislation? You don't want to live in a society of stoners is a good reason.
Do we live in a society of drunkards? (besides me)

[Kathy30]

Is there a point to having a drink besides getting drunk? There is no point to drugs except to get high.

I'd really like to see them warehoused. Give them all the drugs they want until they die. If someone wants to take drugs, easy, go to the nearest facility, they let you in, feed you, clothe you, and give you all the drugs you want until the person just expires. You just cannot leave and impact any one else's life.

[MaximumSam]

I'd really like to see them warehoused. Give them all the drugs they want until they die. If someone wants to take drugs, easy, go to the nearest facility, they let you in, feed you, clothe you, and give you all the drugs you want until the person just expires. You just cannot leave and impact any one else's life.

I think you've just described heaven.

[DeclinetoState]

I think you've just described heaven.Or hell.

[Beowulf]

Yet another thread dealing with the de-criminalization of marijuana. No! No! No! End of discussion.

[The_Elucidator]

Oh, I get it.. We shouldn't say Hussein because that makes us sound stupid but promoting decriminalizing dope is ok.. :dimbulb: :pot: :out:

[Rhino]

I think you've just described heaven.Yes, for those outside the warehouse.

[Lazarus]

- The money saved from ending marijuana prohibition could provide health insurance each year to 4.5 million uninsured children in the U.S. This legislation would be an important first step towards that. Let's do it for the children....

Will the Left ever come up with any original, honest justifications for their proposals?

[DeclinetoState]

Do you think Barney Frank tokes?

[RogerFGay]

The money saved from ending marijuana prohibition could provide health insurance each year to 4.5 million uninsured children in the U.S. This legislation would be an important first step towards that.

At least he's suggesting the idea of cost-cutting measures before spending more. Of course, we can't really trust his estimate right off the block - that this would save enough to pay for health insurance for 4.5 million people - or whether just being generous enough to pay for their insurance is the end game.

But cost cutting - sure - go ahead with that. But why stop with such a small measure (that probably wouldn't actually cover the cost of health insurance for 4.5 million people). Why not start with the top 10 largest pork barrel programs: that should save somewhere in the neighborhood of -- oh, roughly ... at least 50 billion a year; could be much more. Then use the money for tax breaks and investments in research that would reduce the overall cost of health care and thus, health insurance.

And it would go a long way toward restoration of freedom and Constitutional rule. Those things are strained with the arbitrary government intrusions that some of these pork barrel programs demand.

[Lazarus]

...And it would go a long way toward restoration of freedom and Constitutional rule....Freedom and Constitutional Rule?! I think you just lost Barney the Buttplug...

[The_Elucidator]

Let's do it for the children....

Will the Left ever come up with any original, honest justifications for their proposals?

Well we could build more drug rehab centers for the children with all that money.

[Kathy30]

No one factors in the cost of the results of getting high! Accidents, negligence. None of that matters.

Realistically in California marijuana is decriminalized. If there was going to be any laboratory for the results of pot decriminalization this would be it. We have as many pot smokers in jail or in programs as if we hadn't the law. Why? How could this be? They can buy it legally at any clinic. They have a prescription letter so that the cops can't arrest them. Why isn't it working?

Because of the crimes they commit while the pot heads are high. That, and pot is seldom the only drug they take.

[ldb83]

No one factors in the cost of the results of getting high! Accidents, negligence. None of that matters.

I think it does matter, or it very well should matter, to anyone suggesting decriminalization. The things you can't do drunk are the things you should not be allowed to do while baked. Any sort of significantly mind-altering substance should rule you out for driving and the like.

That, and pot is seldom the only drug they take.

I'm not really going to argue that, but is this comment anecdotal, or based on stats? I don't buy the whole gateway argument. I think it confuses correlation with causation. Most serious drug abusers may have smoked pot, but I've yet to see that most pot-smokers abuse serious drugs. The gateway logic suggests cigarettes and alcohol are as much of a gateway to more dangerous substances as marijuana.

[Maggie_T]

I'd really like to see them warehoused. Give them all the drugs they want until they die. If someone wants to take drugs, easy, go to the nearest facility, they let you in, feed you, clothe you, and give you all the drugs you want until the person just expires.

I think you've just described heaven.--Maxi<!-- / message -->



Or hell.--DeclinetoState

Yes, for those outside the warehouse.--Rhino<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Why are you two so surprised? Of course, should think that a liberal's heaven! To be fed, clothed, and medicated till they die. No responsibilities, or anything so tiresome.

That's the only thing Hillary and HUSSEIN Obama agree on, and have been promising since the whole 2008 campaign debacle started.

You guys are not paying attention.

[ldb83]

Well we could build more drug rehab centers for the children with all that money.

To nitpick, one of the only reasons that children who smoke only pot end up in rehab is that they're in trouble with the law because of it. They end up with Cannabis Abuse diagnoses, justified only by the fact that the functional impairment criteria is met based on all of the consequences we impose on them for having or smoking it.

I work with these kids. Several of them get A and B grades in school until they're handed a Felony Possession of Marijuana charge and are subsequently expelled. Great, then they spend all their time at home, bored, and figure they have nothing better to do than get high again. In some cases, we are creating the mess for ourselves when it comes to teens and criminalizing their substance problems.

[Kathy30]

Rehab doesn't work. Just ask Amy Weinhouse. Rehabiilitation is one of those feel good concepts that cost a whole lot of money and produce no results.

Our city had two marijuana clinics. By citizen demand they were both closed. They were closed because of the increase in crime related to these clinics. Aside from the blatant and silly excuses for marijuana use, like my shoe gave me a blister on my foot and I need marijuana to control the pain, a lot of crime came along with these clinics directly related to the pot smokers. The people who said "I thought it was my house and I was high and couldn't get the key to work so I broke in." "I was high and really thought she was interested in me." "I smoked right away, but still had to drive home."

Those who support pot smoking really believe that every pothead is going to sit in their living rooms, not leave and smoke to relax and not bother anyone. It's not true, and these cannibis lovers won't accept the reality. So what if we have a dozen drunks on the road. The liberal view is that if we have a dozen drunks, we should also accept two dozen druggies. That's their answer. It's not acceptable. Thankfully the citizens of the city I live in saw it and closed both clinics.

[Kathy30]

I don't buy the whole gateway argument. I think it confuses correlation with causation. Most serious drug abusers may have smoked pot, but I've yet to see that most pot-smokers abuse serious drugs. The gateway logic suggests cigarettes and alcohol are as much of a gateway to more dangerous substances as marijuana.


Gateway DRUG. No wonder you're confused. Who cares whether it is a gateway drug. This is a gateway LAW. That's what's important, not whether pot is a gateway drug.

[BarkleUSA]

1. Did that sign we just pass say "Bridge Out" or "Far Out" - I can't remember.
Marijuana hinders the user's short-term memory (memory for recent events), and he or she may have trouble handling complex tasks. With the use of more potent varieties of marijuana, even simple tasks can be difficult.

2. But officer, the sign said "High" Way, I was just following directions before the crash.
Marijuana affects many skills required for safe driving: alertness, the ability to concentrate, coordination, and reaction time. These effects can last up to 24 hours after smoking marijuana. Marijuana use can make it difficult to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road.

3. No way would I smoke cigarettes, they're bad for you and sooo uncool.
Smoking any drug is unhealthy. Marijuana is no exception. The smoke actually contains higher concentrations of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) than tobacco smoke. Marijuana smokers generally inhale more smoke for longer depositing more than 4 times as much tar on their lungs as cigarette smokers.

A study of 450 individuals found that people who smoke marijuana frequently but do not smoke tobacco have more health problems and miss more days of work than nonsmokers.

4. But getting high has no health dangers.
One study has indicated that a user’s risk of heart attack more than quadruples in the first hour after smoking marijuana. The researchers suggest that such an effect might occur from marijuana’s effects on blood pressure and heart rate and reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.


Source (http://www.marijuana-detox.com/m-dangers.htm)

[DeclinetoState]

But duuuuude . . . you're so, like, . . . uptight, man. Wow. Go with the flow . . . It's . . . it's cooool, man. Chill.