Congress Loosening Up on Marijuana?

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Congress Loosening Up on Marijuana?

Filed under: Politik

Massachusetts Congrassman Barney Frank told the House on Wednesday that the U.S. should stop arresting responsible marijuana users and introduced a proposal to end federal penalties for Americans carrying fewer than 100 grams.

Not that we smoke the 420, but woo hoo!

Representative Frank went on to say that current laws targeting marijuana users place undue burdens on law enforcement resources, punish ill Americans whose doctors have prescribed the substance and unfairly affect African-Americans.

"The vast amount of human activity ought to be none of the government's business. I don't think it is the government's business to tell you how to spend your leisure time."

Funny, something tells us that Representative Frank won't get far with his proposal.

[Image via Mavrix Online.]

Posted: July 30, 2008 at 6:00 pm

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Home >> Politik >> Congress Loosening Up on Marijuana?

259 comments to “Congress Loosening Up on Marijuana?”

More comments: [1] 2 3 »

Cady says – reply to this

1

Finally, someone with some intelligent insight on the other side. JOIN NORML.
Pwn3d says – reply to this

2

@ 4:19pm EST Wednesday, Yahoo! reported that Hannah Montana might be ending it's current run. Let's see how long it takes for Perez to steal it and post on his site. Probably Friday!
Mike says – reply to this

3

first
Mike says – reply to this

4

first
Pwn3d says – reply to this

5

My mistake, they posted it on TUESDAY so Perez is already a day behind. Let's see how long it still takes him to post something.
Mike says – reply to this

6

first
Mike says – reply to this

7

first
Mike says – reply to this

8

first
perezhiltonsucks says – reply to this

9

Dude 100 grams of mj is A LOT!
shesa says – reply to this

10

Top 5 bitches ! Felix call me.
yaya says – reply to this

11

wwwwwww
FReal says – reply to this

12

What about responsible cocaine users? Potheads are lazy pigs. We cokeheads get shit done!!
Corey says – reply to this

13

Hey Perez! Were you taking a bong hit when you wrote this because you spelled "smoke" - "spoke" as in, "Not that we spoke the 420, but woo hoo!" Um, spelling errors on a professional blog seems to be the work of a marijuana smoker, not that I care because I do smoke pot for medical and anxiety reasons and wish at least medical marijuana was federally legalized!
debbie< says – reply to this

14

im livein boston && no one gets caught for smoking anywayss..

my friend's dad is a stat trooper && shes the biggest pot head… lmao
k-Lee says – reply to this

15

kal penn's hot.
ryan says – reply to this

16

first
RYAN SHECKLER MAKES ME HORNY says – reply to this

17

Marijuana is safer than cigarettes. yep yep.
Frag says – reply to this

18

" not that we spoke "? Nice editing. Were you stoned when you wrote this?
haha says – reply to this

19

hahaha
Mommy says – reply to this

20

Perez, I know you depend on spell check at times, but seriously, can you not type?
katy says – reply to this

21

THEY NEED TO LEAGLIZE I WOULD PAY TAXES ON IT TO SMOKE OUTSIDE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT IT EVERYONE SMOKES ANYWAY> I BET A LOT OF REPS DO TOO> THEY PROBABLY HAVE THE BEST BOMB>

SMOKE IT BABY!!!! HEY THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT GOING GREEN
jesus says – reply to this

22

legalize it, don't criticize it.
~d~ says – reply to this

23

YAY!!! it shouldn't be outlawed!!
RYAN SHECKLER MAKES ME HORNY says – reply to this

24

P.S. Who's the ugly indian guy in the pic??
Lucy$ says – reply to this

25

I love me some sackagaweeda.
Miss Diva says – reply to this

26

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cele says – reply to this

27

im an ex pothead myself but i think 100g is too much to be carrying! try 50g. carrying 100g seems like your a dealer
katy says – reply to this

28

Re: FReal – Right! I have been there before. You may think you are getting shit done but it takes you like an hour to do anything at all. Tweeker time that is why tweekers are always late. They are doing too much but nothigng at all. Not mad at you just spitting the truth.
Miss Diva says – reply to this

29

Re: FReal – fuck coke… you'll die sooner anyway, it'll fuck you inside out…marijuana fucking rocks!
em says – reply to this

30

um, woohoo?
i thought you hated smoking?
cele says – reply to this

31

Re: RYAN SHECKLER MAKES ME HORNY – ot for everyone
elle says – reply to this

32

First of all weed is a DRUG. Drugs are for people who are for people who could care less about their health and who are just plain STUPID. Weed is a gateway drug & it impairs your judgment. DONT LEGALIZE IT.
Teati says – reply to this

33

What does the term "420" mean? I'm 80 yrs old and do not understand your lingo young man!
tattooed white trash says – reply to this

34

Marijuana and prostitution should be legal in the United States. That way it can be taxed and bring the economy back on top.
ruthyrulz says – reply to this

35

YESSS finally someone that has any sense in our government!
DUBYA says – reply to this

36

……SHEEEEE-IT! I'D SIGN THAT BILL! AFTER THE WAY I'VE FUCKED UP THIS COUNTRY WITH MY STRA-TEE-GERY, I'M GOIN' BACK TO BOOZE, WEED, AND A SHITLOAD OF COKE WHEN I KIN FINALLY GET THE FUCK OUTTA' THIS TOWN. WOOOOOOOOOP-EEEEEEEEEEE!
………I'M PUTTIN' BARNEY (MUH DOG….NOT THAT SMART ASS MO!) UNDER MY ARM AND RIDIN' LAURA BACK TO CRAWFORD! WOOOOOOOOOP-EEEEE!
adele says – reply to this

37

this is one of the most innocuous drugs out there-it's a huge waste of resources to prosecute anyone holding a small amount. frankly, people get more violent on alcohol. where i am in canada, i don't think anyone cares unless you're dealing or running a grow-op or something major..i don't smoke it either
canuk says – reply to this

38

It frees up valuable and tax-expensive law enforcement resources and courts to deal with more serious and pressing matters and the very nasty criminals. Many industrialized nations have successfully adopted this policy. Fears of a slippery slope have not materialized. (so far.)
Alex says – reply to this

39

Marijuana should be legal completely. Anyone who thinks to the contrary is a complete idiot. If sales are monitored, it is no different than the selling of alcohol. This way, we can make sure there aren't dangerous additives in the dope. Plus, the government would be making money, so who cares? Its win win. I don't even smoke weed and I think it should be legalized.
Alain says – reply to this

40

"I don't think it is the government's business to tell you how to spend your leisure time." –TRUE THAT!
cheec says – reply to this

41

if U Perez got a list together might help al us weed smokers com'on Rise UP people
Rache says – reply to this

42

THIS is what America needs! Now let's elect Barack and get some crack legalized too. WOO HOO!!!
mike says – reply to this

43

I love it when you blog about things that matter. This is great news!!!! If you ever get to P-town you can probably meet Barny Frank at the Boatslip T-dance
nah says – reply to this

44

Re: Cady – I have to disagree with NORML and everything they do. I think that the only way to get legislation passed besides these tiny baby steps (i.e. states legalizing Medical Marijuana but not for reacreational use in small quantities) is to have people who don't smoke and aren't affiliated with NORML to step up because a non-smoker who has nothing to lose if the laws stay the way they are is MUCH more credible to a congressman than a bunch of hippies acting like people with glaucoma suffering is their agenda… NORML is affiliated with all the celebrity potheads and big-time growers (i.e. Jorge Cervantes) and congress just laughs at them because they know they just want to be able to smoke legally for recreational purposes. NORML gives "normal" people that smoke a bad name in my opinion
Naaah says – reply to this

45

I'm amazed congress is even looking at it. Could health care be next?
Cancelling Bill O'Reilly? Solving Iran with talks? Acknowledging and perfecting the Japanese car that runs 100 miles on one gallon of water instead of legislating more drilling? Naaaaaah. I was hallucinating. Too much Starbuck's coffee.
FUrya says – reply to this

46

Re: RYAN SHECKLER MAKES ME HORNY – FU! Racist!
Chels says – reply to this

47

Hey fatboy why the delay in the story about Ludacris rapping his rant inwhich he's calling Hillary a bitch and being irrelevant while turning the White House into a black house. Instead you stick to some bullshit pothead story that isn't going to see the light of day on the house floor. You're such a cunt, you should just put your undersized balls and dick in a mason jar right now.
swank says – reply to this

48

Nice typo with Con"grass"man - although with the amount of spelling errors I've seen on this site, I'm assuming that it probably wasn't intentional.
eh says – reply to this

49

keeping marijuana illegal is such a fucking waste of my tax dollars. there's so many more productive and actually efficient things to do with that money.
Natur says – reply to this

50

Come on This grows naturally!!
No problem!
josie says – reply to this

51

~~~~WOW LET'S MAKE DRUGS LEGAL. THAT IS SOOO STUPID. I CAN'T BELIEVE HE MADE THAT STATEMENT~~~~
dev says – reply to this

52

Re: elle –

Its a plant, not a drug. Drugs are something that needs to be processed and manipulated. Its just a plant.

And its not a gateway drug. The number of people that smoke pot in this county is way less than the number of people that use hard drugs. You've just read skewed statistics. The statistic usually says 90% of hard drug users have smoked pot. What you didn't read was the number of people that smoke pot that don't do hard drugs.
nah says – reply to this

53

Go to Amsterdam where you're allowed to smoke, and sure, it's a prosperous city and things are fine. But jesus, the WEIRDOS you see in the streets and the amount of unwanted drug tourism is amazing. If it were legal, you think the government would improve because of taxing pot and helping the economy that way. But think about it - if it were legal, there would be a relatively consistent price to each strain you buy. The black market would just lower the prices and illegal drug trafficking involving cannabis would continue and even expand (since growing wouldn't be as much of a risky venture, bigger crops) so the idea that the DEA and cops and all the other government agencies would now focus on the "real bad guys" wouldn't even be true. And then you'd add to all the acceptabe drunks on the streets with everyone else being stoned! Who would keep the world working?
nah says – reply to this

54

Re: dev – Um what about peyote or mushrooms? just say "I WANNA SMOKE AND NOT GO TO JAIL!" to which I'd say, "Amen, brother!" but don't say it's not a drug when it clearly is. Also, in a small percentage of people it can induce mental illness including schizophrenia and that is a fact… no need in justifying smoking something bad for you, you can still do it. I'm sure a lot of us that smoke cigarettes don't go saying "it's not bad for you" but we still smoke!
no says – reply to this

55

Cannabis causes Mental illness. If that fact bothers people i suggest they take it up with families of dope users that have developed acute psychiatric disorders due to smoking it.
For moderate users with terminal diseases as alternative pain releif , fine. It's an awful drug though that turns people into unresponsive shells . it should continue to be controlled and treated like any other illegal drug that affects a persons ability to think , reason and one that can potentially lead to life long psychiatric illness.
Sammy says – reply to this

56

Ok….this just goes to show how ludacris this country really is. Alcohol is leagal in the United States and marajuana is not?? Alcohol is way more dangerous than marajuana. How many criminal offenses take place because of alcohol? Way to many in my opinion. Marajuana should be leagalized! You don't even have to smoke it to realize that
Sammy says – reply to this

57

Ok….this just goes to show how ludacris this country really is. Alcohol is legal in the United States and marajuana is not?? Alcohol is way more dangerous than marajuana. How many criminal offenses take place because of alcohol? Way to many in my opinion. Marajuana should be leagalized! You don't even have to smoke it to realize that
Anastasia says – reply to this

58

It might not make much of a difference now, but this is definately a step in the rght direction. The more people in power who speak out against marijuana laws, the more other people feel they can do the same. It drives up public awareness as well
megs says – reply to this

59

that's not a pic of barney frank. you need to be careful about continuing to use celebs and other peep's pics in jest when discussing stories not directly related to them….leaves you open to a lawsuit…
pot says – reply to this

60

People should be able to grow Their own pot!
Mel says – reply to this

61

Really you don't spoke it. Do you have a high school edumucation?
desi says – reply to this

62

kal penn's hot ; i keed
Lovely says – reply to this

63

If they legalized pot, they would make so much money on taxing it!
cigarrettes KILL but they are legal
Alcohol is way worse than marijuana

so idgi
GoMA says – reply to this

64

Once again, Mass rawwwwwks.
.
.
We are the libertarian paradise New Hampshire wishes it were.
lisa says – reply to this

65

Amen, Congressman Frank. If the American drug policy would allow adults to buy legal drugs then there would be no profit for thugs who kill one another. Prisons would be less full from "drug crimes". The FDA would regulate it. The government could collect taxes on sales. What could be the downside? Barney has always been a forward thinker.
victo says – reply to this

66

Re: Corey – Yeah because smoking pot isn't going to make anxiety worse, oh no.. lololol
dmd says – reply to this

67

Everyone should to to www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.comwww.seedtheworld.comwww.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com vwww.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com v www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.comwww.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com
Oui says – reply to this

68

Re: elle – #32 - Replace 'weed' with alcohol in your post. Do you know that the rate of alcholism in France in the adult population is lower than the U.S. because kids are allowed to sip wine with dinner right from the start? Taking away the forbiddeness reduces the seductiveness of the forbidden substance for most.
cele says – reply to this

69

Re: elle – cigarettes and alcohol are the main gateway drugs. ive been smoking pot for 3years and the only thing it leads to is junkfood.
? says – reply to this

70

I agree with medicinal use and small quanities!

Why are African-Americans singled out??
RE says – reply to this

71

Re: Corey – yeah, snorting another line!
april says – reply to this

72

actually, i think this proposal will get far…barney frank is a very influential representative in the house.
dmd says – reply to this

73

Re: katy – That s just the problem, why should you have to pay taxes on it??? thats why it isn't legal because the government can't regulate and profit on something that can so easly be grown in your home, just like a tomato plant in the garden. It is a joke that it is illegal, spread your seeds whenever you have them….just throw them on your neighbors lawn or in front of a police station or in the woods…anywhere and everywhere. www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.comwww.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com
harri says – reply to this

74

Stupid liberal congressman and perez. Do you just not get that introducing drugs yes, it is a drug will lead to more DUI and needless death and injury. Any drug is a bad drug.
:) says – reply to this

75

Re: nah – Sounds like L.A. Have you SEEN L.A.? Not just L.A. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Natal says – reply to this

76

what's wrong with speaking the 420 people? You know: Let's roll up a fatty and watch the Simpsons then munch on the cheese puffs. Now that's speaking the 420…have you considered that maybe Perez meant to write that. It's not that difficult to fathom people!! Some folks will find anything to bitch about….for that…it makes me sad. And for that…I must roll and J and visit my laundry room. Thanks for the excuse..
dmd says – reply to this

77

The real drug dealer is Pfiser!! they make billions of dollars off of shit that is far more harmful to your body than smoking marijuana. www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com vwww.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com vwww.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com www.seedtheworld.com
cele says – reply to this

78

no drug should be illegal. dont forget that prescription drugs can cause problems and kill you! thats what killed heath ledger. i do think that some people can get very serious problems for mary jane, i recently quite bcuz i was getting obsessive about thing like maybe i was getting OCD. i smoked 24-7 though. too much of anything is not good! still should not be illegal though when its totally natural and less processed than alcohol which is much more dangerous. no one has ever dyed from MJ and who ever heard of getting raped after a guy got you stoned?
Ann says – reply to this

79

Some people need some drug education….and fast! For those of you who have never used drugs, or maybe played around with them but didn't like it — CONGRATULATIONS and GOOD FOR YOU! They can fuck you up. However, marijuana is a completely different drug than anything else. It is in a category all by itself. It is not even in the same realm as cocaine, heroin, meth, ecstasy, ghb, crack……or even alcohol. Is it great for ya? No, but neither are a lot of things in this world (McDonald's, white sugar, soda pop, unprotected sex……and of course, ALCOHOL!) It is not a gateway drug; it does not lead you to a life of crime. Marijuana is the ONLY drug that has a legitimate argument for responsible use. What has a higher chance of disaster: drinking a 12 pack or smoking a few blunts? Why is it ok to drink….it's almost seen as a right of passage…..but somehow smoking an herb that mellows you out and makes you wanna listen to music is seen as terrible?? About 25,000 people die every year in an alcohol-related incident (mostly drinking and driving). Know how many people die of a STRICTLY marijuana-related incident? NONE! The reasons for marijuana being illegal? Purely political….god forbid the AA or Latin population make some money, right?? So……GOD BLESS THE LIBERTARIANS!! GET GOVT OUT OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!! LEGALIZE IT!!! LORD KNOWS THE ECONOMY COULD USE A BOOST!
Natal says – reply to this

80

Re: no –
uh…this type of stupidity really gets me. i'm a frequent smoker…about 3 times a day and let me tell you something, i'm not an "unresponsive shell" as you say. Considering that I've been smoking for 10 years, my life has progressesed and I'm not an uptight asshole who has intolerance for anything that's not me. Actually, i have a 3.8 GPA and ready to graduate from college and possibly service your ass in my profession! You never know, so don't judge people who smoke, a lot of times they are more proficient and efficient than dumbasses like you who have all their facts wrong. Check yourself before you type….k?
Ann says – reply to this

81

One more thing…..to the people who say the marijuana causes mental illness…..um……NO! Marijuana will interact with an already present mental illness, and perhaps intensify it or trigger symptoms, but it is NOT the cause of mental illness. My lord, were you guys all raised in Utah????
natal says – reply to this

82

Re: Ann –

thanks Ann.
3l$@ says – reply to this

83

yay 420 bitches! lets get high PEREZ i got a nice BONKAH!
Miaz2 says – reply to this

84

That would be a grand day if this happened. But, I highly doubt it. In this country, the true common day thinking folks are either poorer than average or really rich. These two groups actually vote similarly, practice similar behaviors and make up a slight majority of the US population-like 51%. Somewhere within that 51%, the poorer than average households (a household with an annual income of $22,000 a year or less) vote about evenly for Democrat and Republican Party's. It's the really rich who actually swing the vote Democratic.

My point is you damn conservatives constantly preach about freedom and independence from Big Government, yet you are the biggest damn regulators and enforcers out here! Quit making all of these damn laws that only you can bend and legalize marijuana. Alcoholism and prescription drug abuse are the biggest culprits and should be the ones monitored more. Both are inorganic and man-made.

Cannibas comes from the earth and is a natural therapeudic.
Jeff says – reply to this

85

lets face it, most if not all of us..probably including perez smoke it… leaglize it…time to recognize
CC says – reply to this

86

that would fucking rule! let's pray it passes!
Kaye says – reply to this

87

GOOD! I mean seriously - who do you want in jail? A Stoner or a Rapist? Stoner's don't hurt anyone.
Mags says – reply to this

88

Kal Penn is the shiz, and so is John Cho. I hope they make 3rd Harold and Kumar movie.
uBUGr says – reply to this

89

HEY BARNEY, SUGGEST TAXING IT AND YOU WILL SEE THE POLITICIANS TRIPPING OVER EACH OTHER TO VOTE THAT IN.
:l-
MRS. RICKY MARTIN LOVER says – reply to this

90

It's ironic that there was a time in America when the federal government actually required farmers to grow cannabis or face fines for not doing so.
katca says – reply to this

91

Not that you 'spoke' the 420…no, but do you SMOKE it????
rocrmom94 says – reply to this

92

I have to agree with no on this!! I dated a guy who was a smoker since high school, we met back up in our 30's. The dude was hostile!!And had a major personality disorder!!! The pot clearly made him crazy!!! And mental illness ran in his family!!
helly says – reply to this

93

Bout time… coke is better though, as are amphetamines… with moderate usage of course!!
> says – reply to this

94

smokin' poppin' shootin' snortin'
no says – reply to this

95

Re: Natal – Everything I've said has been verified scientifically.. if you want to smoke yourself mentally ill that's your prerogative , but don't pervade a mistruth that cannibals/weed/whatever is a harmless drug. it isn't and you probably know all too well it isn't.
Lots of people develop schizophrenia / become withdrawn and develop suicidal depression amongst other psychiatric disorders through use of this “soft” drug.
WalRu says – reply to this

96

Re: elle –
As an ex DRUG addict…I had to respond to this.

Marijuana is in NO way comparable to drugs like heroin or cocaine. Not at all. If you want to make something illegal, try ALCOHOL….it actually kills people, unlike marijuana.
Jimmy says – reply to this

97

Re: elle – Every study shows that it is NOT a gateway drug.
WalRu says – reply to this

98

Re: josie –
(This being someone who puts things like ~~~~~~ before sentences which are types in all CApS~~~~~~)
Ryan says – reply to this

99

RON PAUL is co sponsoring this bill and has been an outspoken critic of federal drug laws for as long as he's been in office. All you have to do is look at the constitution to see that there is no basis for federal drug laws. At least with alcohol, the government had the decency to amend the constitution to make it illegal. Why would they need to bother doing that? Because otherwise, there's nothing in there to make alcohol illegal. Same as marijuana or any other drug/substance/whatever. It's my body and you can't legally tell me what to do with it. I don't give a damn if it's bad for people and blah blah blah. That is not a legal argument. I'm so tired of the people in this country deciding what I can and can't do to myself. I am a proud Ron Paul Republican…somebody who still believes in the limits of government, the rule of law and the constitution.
Frank says – reply to this

100

Funny that thousands of deaths are caused by alcohol and barely any (if any) are caused by weed. It's easy to see the influence of lobbyists.

More comments: [1] 2 3 »