Yes We Cannabis

David Weigel | July 30, 2008

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) is back with another marijuana decriminalization bill, and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) is a co-sponsor.

House Resolution 5843, titled the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008, would express support for "a very small number of individuals" suffering from chronic pain or illness to smoke marijuana with impunity.
...
If HR 5843 were passed, the House would support marijuana smokers possessing up to 100 grams -- about 3½ ounces -- of cannabis without being arrested. It would also give its blessing to the "nonprofit transfer" of up to an ounce of marijuana.

I liked Frank's response to critics, too.

In a shot at Republicans, Frank said it was strange that those who support limited government want to criminalize marijuana.

Asked whether the resolution's passage would change his personal behavior, Frank quipped, "I do obey every law I vote for" but quickly said he did not use marijuana, nor does he encourage it.

"I smoke cigars. I don't think other people should do that. If young people ask me, I would advise them not to do it," he said.

Nick Juliano reports on the Office of Drug Control Policy's extremely mature response to Frank: dispatching a bunch of sneering critics to the presser.

Why did the White House feel it necessary to send at least three staffers to Capitol Hill to place in every reporter's hand a copy of its 20-page, color-copied "2008 Marijuana Sourcebook?" RAW STORY posed this question to Murray.

"It is our responsibility to be aware of policy developments," said Murray, who clarified that he had a PhD and was not a medical doctor. He explained that Frank's attempt to modify the controlled substances act was very much of interest to the Bush administration's pot prohibitionists.

The Marijuana Policy Project's Rob Kampia, who stuck around to listen to Murray's post-press conference diatribe, said he suspected ulterior motives behind the propagandistic pontificating.

"Nothing's going to happen on this before he loses his job," the decriminalization advocate said, acknowledging that Frank's bill won't move forward until at least next year, when President Bush -- and his appointees -- would be out of office. "This is him emptying the clip."

Via Bruce Mirken.

Comments

|7.30.08 @ 4:55PM|#

"This is him emptying the clip."

The roach clip?

|7.30.08 @ 4:58PM|#

The image of Barney Frank emptying his clip has put me off my lunch...

|7.30.08 @ 5:01PM|#

"This is him emptying the clip."

Go 'head, empty that clip. See what happens when you're done and we still around.

|7.30.08 @ 5:02PM|#

In a shot at Republicans, Frank said it was strange that those who support limited government want to criminalize marijuana.

BULLSHIT!
I fucking HATE that tired old canard. Republicans have NEVER supported limited government. And it's been a dozen years since a Republican has even CLAIMED to support limited government. But this bullshit just wont die.

|7.30.08 @ 5:08PM|#

Asked whether the resolution's passage would change his personal behavior, Frank quipped, "I do obey every law I vote for" but quickly said he did not use marijuana, nor does he encourage it.

"I smoke cigars. I don't think other people should do that. If young people ask me, I would advise them not to do it," he said.

Lame lame lame. Always with the lame. We need a leader who will say "Effing Eh right I smoke pot. It's great for when you need to solve really difficult problems. Plus it's really fun. Smoking pot makes my life a hundred times better. If you use it responsibly there's practically no downside. I can't understand why anyone wouldn't smoke pot." That would move the goalpost. This is just the same old "first let me say I totally concede your bullshit" that doesn't impress anyone.

red green|7.30.08 @ 5:12PM|#

But the BIGGIST load of bullshit, the phony drug war, does'nt seem to want to die either. At least one door into the halls of congress has been opened...next comes RE-LEGALIZATION!

jtuf|7.30.08 @ 5:12PM|#

In related news, HR5842 is still in health subcommittee. The NJ Rep for New Brunswick (Frank J. Pallone) is on that committee. If anyone is near Rutgers University, you might want to stop by his office to talk about it.

jtuf|7.30.08 @ 5:13PM|#

Obama says he is for decriminalization. I'm still waiting for him to sponsor senate versions of HR5842 and HR5843. His campaign did not respond when I questioned them about it.

Elemenope|7.30.08 @ 5:17PM|#

Lame lame lame. Always with the lame. We need a leader who will say "Effing Eh right I smoke pot. It's great for when you need to solve really difficult problems. Plus it's really fun. Smoking pot makes my life a hundred times better. If you use it responsibly there's practically no downside. I can't understand why anyone wouldn't smoke pot." That would move the goalpost. This is just the same old "first let me say I totally concede your bullshit" that doesn't impress anyone.

Maybe, just *maybe*, he says he doesn't smoke because, eh, he DOESN'T SMOKE. Much like Ron Paul. I imagine he, as a doctor, wouldn't go around telling people that inhaling smoke in any form is recommended.

Beyond that, I disagree that what the movement needs is politicians suiciding on a drug-use throwaway line. Unless that politician has national stature, and is popular, and is in the middle of his/her term, it would do no good. You'd probably need the president to admit to an occasional toke before this tack would work.

|7.30.08 @ 5:31PM|#

Bruce Mirkin


tee hee

Mr Nice guy|7.30.08 @ 5:43PM|#

Hey disinformation machine *cough* I mean white house, I know you're just lookin out for the best interests of your lobbyists.. I mean our youth, but I've really got to tell ya; You're going to have to come up with a new song and dance if you're going to continue fooling any of them at all. Its lookin pretty bleak as it is, but I dont know how many times they're going to drink from the "Prolonged use can lead to schizophrenia" cool-aid cup before they realize "hmmmm I always just felt a little giggly and hungry for while". Now, propiganda machine... I mean Office of National Drug Policy, We've got to sit down and have a heart to heart. You've had a good run, really I meant it! You gave us a silly sense of "I'm cool and subversive, no wait I mean conforming" fashion when you came out with the "d.a.r.e" campagin, I dont know where cheap talantless comedy's would be with out phrases like "this is your brain, this is your brain on drugs". The problem is you just haven't been churning out those same enjoyable hits. I mean there have been a few good ones that made for some good satire material, I remember just last night a friend and I broke out the "just tell your girlfriends you were too busy getting STONED to watch their purses" and had a good laugh. But all in all, your time is over. It was really only funny when there were actually people left on this planet dumb enough to believe you about anything. The fun's over manufacterer of consent. Now go the fuck away.

|7.30.08 @ 6:00PM|#

I would never have tried cocaine (dangerous shit), heroin (extremely dangerous shit) or LSD (I think it's dangerous shit for those a bit mentally unstable) if not for the fact that everything the government said about reefer was a bald-faced lie.

Why would young people heed the warnings about "hard drugs" from the same source that lied constantly about marijuana? They don't.

tim|7.30.08 @ 6:04PM|#

Rep. Ron Paul is co-sponsoring it? Then its pretty much guaranteed not to pass.

SIV|7.30.08 @ 6:06PM|#

jtuf | July 30, 2008, 5:13pm | #
Obama says he is for decriminalization. I'm still waiting for him to sponsor senate versions of HR5842 and HR5843. His campaign did not respond when I questioned them about it.


Are you high or somethin'?

Obama hasn't called for decriminalization.

The Bearded Hobbit|7.30.08 @ 6:10PM|#

.. ho, hum .. same old story .. bill gets introduced, bill goes down in flames 2-433 (pretending that it goes to the full House.. said bill will be given to committee and never sees the light of day again)..

Warren @ 5:02: .. I agree 100%

J sub D: .. excellent point that I have made several times in the past..

.. another point I have made several times in the past: ain't gonna happen .. been getting my hopes up for somewhere around a half-century, now, and I don't see legalization any closer .. still don't think that it's gonna happen in my lifetime..

.. (this is easy to hedge .. if the Feds ever do legalize it, I will drop dead from a heart attack!!)

.. Hobbit

End Drug War|7.30.08 @ 6:24PM|#

News from the NYT

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/nyregion/25chance.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

DJ Voton|7.30.08 @ 6:27PM|#

I would never have tried cocaine (dangerous shit), heroin (extremely dangerous shit) or LSD (I think it's dangerous shit for those a bit mentally unstable) if not for the fact that everything the government said about reefer was a bald-faced lie.
Neither would I, and I'd like to take this opportunity to say, thank you, government!

SIV|7.30.08 @ 6:39PM|#

Statement from Obama's Campaign

he(Obama) does not support eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana possession and use.

Seems pretty clear.Obama supports our current drug laws.


"Senator Obama does not believe in legalization of marijuana, but agrees with President Bush that long minimum sentences for first-time drug users may not be the best way to occupy jail space or heal people from their disease," Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

Obama agrees with President Bush on drug policy.

Of course he is just saying that to get elected. The REAL Obama will make 4/20 a National Holiday.

|7.30.08 @ 6:40PM|#

You don't need to be a smoker to support marijuana legalization. Non-smokers are harmed by the prohibition as well!

Enforcing the prohibition is damn costly, the money that pays for it comes out of taxpayers pockets, the majority of whom are non-smokers.

And what do they get for their money? How do they benefit when the DEA raids a dispensary or when their kids are busted for possessing some marijuana? They don't! For all the money they spend on enforcing the prohibition they receive *nothing* in return.

End the prohibition. Legalize Marijuana!!

Naga Sadow|7.30.08 @ 7:05PM|#

I wish this bill had passed when I was watching "Harold & Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay" last night. Sadly me and my friends were not high while watching it . . .(sigh).

Devil\'s Advocate|7.30.08 @ 7:23PM|#

Enforcing the prohibition is damn costly, the money that pays for it comes out of taxpayers pockets, the majority of whom are non-smokers.

I thought drug prohibition made money through civil forfeiture.

|7.30.08 @ 7:51PM|#

Loved Barney Frank's comment. Hey, _I_ obey all the laws I voted for, too! Every one of them.

|7.30.08 @ 8:19PM|#

There is nothing that SIV hates more than the thought that "drugged out libertarians," as he probably sees them, might find a Democrat preferable to a Republican and vote for them. It really lights a fire on his bottom.

Unfortunately Democrats, whether politicians or the rank and file, while certainly not perfect, are simply BETTER on the issue of drugs than his beloved GOP. It's empirically demonstrable in a number of ways (poll numbers of self-identified voters, roll call votes of elected officials, etc).

I always like this quote by Reason's drug policy expert, who should know, for SIV:

"It seems to me that Obama now has unequivocally promised to back off and allow states to make their own policy decisions about the medical use of marijuana within their own borders. He also seems to be saying the federal government should consider rescheduling marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act so that doctors can legally prescribe it. Even if that second part never materializes, on this issue Obama is much better than John McCain, who (as the Times notes) has repeatedly flip-flopped between federalism and drug-war dogmatism, with the latter at this point winning out." May 15, 2008, 6:30pm


Savor it SIV. I'll enjoy your tears with a side of chicken rice (ymmuy). Your boys in the GOP will keep letting ya down on the drug freedom issue, because the party is a bunch of Puritans from the 15th century now...

The Bearded Hobbit|7.30.08 @ 8:21PM|#

I thought drug prohibition made money through civil forfeiture.

.. IIRC (and I may not), asset forfeiture didn't rear it's monstrously ugly head until around the Reagan 80's ..

.. Hobbit

|7.30.08 @ 8:26PM|#

"Senator Obama does not believe in legalization of marijuana, but agrees with President Bush that long minimum sentences for first-time drug users may not be the best way to occupy jail space or heal people from their disease," Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

Obama agrees with President Bush on drug policy."

HAHAHAHAH. Yeah, SIV, that's what that quote means!

SIV|7.30.08 @ 8:42PM|#

There will be drug testing for Obama's mandatory National Service conscripts....

they can stay drug-free as they work off their student loan debts.

|7.30.08 @ 8:44PM|#

Sigh.

SIV, if you have some evidence that McCain, the current GOP nominee, is better on drug freedom than Obama, the current Dem nominee, let's see it please.

Oh, SIV, I like this quote by Reason's drug policy expert:

"on this issue Obama is much better than John McCain"

SIV|7.30.08 @ 8:49PM|#

McCain isn't any better on "drug policy" than Obama. There is no evidence he is any worse.
McCain's wife was a junkie and he supports current drug laws for anyone else.

Obama used to smoke weed and he wants to keep it illegal.

|7.30.08 @ 8:49PM|#

Of course, what Barney Frank gives with one hand, he takes away with another, as he's a cosponsor on the bill to ban cloves.

Let's see, does meaningless sponsorship of a marijuana bill that will never become law outweigh cosponsoring and voting for a bill to ban flavored cigarettes that probably will become law?

|7.30.08 @ 8:52PM|#

I would rather see legislation to allow industrial Hemp to be grown for replacement of petroleum products to replace plastics and clothing.. There's so many uses for Hemp..Clothing, rope, canvas paper. The constitution was written upon Hemp. The first car was fueled with Hemp oil. Many trees could be saved and oil consumption could be cut with industrial hemp.

SIV|7.30.08 @ 8:55PM|#

There is a stench of patchouli and mids in here. Yeah, let's run our cars on hemp, Government subsidized hemp.

|7.30.08 @ 9:00PM|#

OK SIV we're making progress. We can start from a baseline, that McCain is "no better" than Obama. I can't imagine a GOP Prez nominee being better than a Dem one, but let's move on.

Now let's talk about evidence that Obama might be better.

How about the Sullum post and quote? Better than McCain on this issue, you think?

|7.30.08 @ 9:30PM|#

C'mon SIV.

I've never understood this about you.

Why you can't just admit that on the issue of drug freedom the Dems, as officials and as a party, are simply better than the GOP.

You could say, and I would agree with you "the GOP is better on guns and affirmative action and taxes, and etc., but just not better on this one issue, drugs" but what always tickles me is that you cannot submit that on ANY ONE ISSUE the Dems may be better.

That's irrational hate, brotha. Did a Democratic party official shoot your dog or something?

|7.30.08 @ 9:42PM|#

People who think the Democrats are better on the drug issue than Republicans are living in a fanatasy world. Politicians in both parties are equally in favor of retaining prohibition.

|7.30.08 @ 11:39PM|#

I've been told that in addition to its many industrial uses, you can also hump hemp -- using hash oil for lubrication, of course.

VM|7.31.08 @ 8:31AM|#

yay, Smacky! Bruce's associate, Mitch Taint was unavailable for comment!

Warren - good call!

TallDave|7.31.08 @ 11:59AM|#

In a shot at Republicans, Frank said it was strange that those who support limited government want to criminalize marijuana.

I think this is the line of argument that will eventually force the GOP to concede to reality, along with the free market principle that we're making drug dealers rich by giving them a monopoly.

Throw in AQ and the billions they're making with Afghan poppies while also ganering local support, and you maybe have a lever that can move the party.

TallDave|7.31.08 @ 12:00PM|#

Why you can't just admit that on the issue of drug freedom the Dems, as officials and as a party, are simply better than the GOP.

It's undeniably true. They aren't a lot better, but they're definitely somewhat better.

Kevin|7.31.08 @ 6:35PM|#

Re-legalize it!


Which is older, John McCain or Prohibition?

McCain, born in 1936 wins by 1 year!
Prohibition was born in 1937.