cannabisnews.com: Rep. Frank Wants To Legalize Pot Rep. Frank Wants To Legalize Pot Posted by CN Staff on April 18, 2008 at 10:29:56 PT By Evan Lehmann Source: Lowell Sun Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Barney Frank wasn't blowing smoke when he promised on an HBO program three weeks ago to seek a repeal of federal law against personal pot use. The Newton Democrat introduced a bill yesterday that would give states the ability to make marijuana legal in amounts of 3.5 ounces or less. He said Washington should treat cannabis like alcohol and tobacco. "I do not believe that the federal government should treat adults who choose to smoke marijuana as criminals," Frank said in a statement, adding that it's "not appropriate in a free society." It seems Frank's indulgences are limited to puffing on cigars between votes. He indicated last month on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher that he does not smoke marijuana This is the first time that Frank has pulled for the decriminalization of personal pot use since he was in the state Legislature in the 1970s. "When I got to Congress, frankly, I was feeling more cautious," Frank told Maher. "I finally got to the point where I think I can get away with it." Under federal law, marijuana possession can land you in jail for a year and hit you with a $1,000 fine on the first conviction, according to Frank's office. U.S. Rep. John Olver, D-Amherst, supports medical marijuana, but hasn't "expressed a position" on Frank's effort regarding personal pot use, according to Sara Merriam, Olver's spokeswoman. Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-Lowell, hasn't had a chance to review Frank's proposal, according to her office. But she supports "making marijuana available for medicinal purposes for sick patients who truly need it," Tsongas said in a statement.Source: Lowell Sun (MA)Author: Evan LehmannPublished: April 18, 2008Copyright: 2008 MediaNews Group, Inc.Contact: letters lowellsun.comWebsite: http://www.lowellsun.com/Related Articles:Frank Wants To Drop Federal Penalties for Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23838.shtmlFrank Pushing Pot Reliefhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23807.shtmlBarney Frank: My Pot Bill Liveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23801.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #27 posted by FoM on April 19, 2008 at 11:58:46 PT OverwhelmSam I was raised in Pennsylvania so this song made me smile.Obama Everywhere in Pennsylvania (band version)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMokHZ_35qY [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by FoM on April 19, 2008 at 11:46:53 PT OverwhelmSam Thank you. You made my day! [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by OverwhelmSam on April 19, 2008 at 08:47:20 PT Emily Maguire Obama Video Thought you might enjoy this new song and video by Emily Maguire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfQmAO2Q5kk [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Robbie on April 19, 2008 at 08:13:59 PT Wow They actually used it's proper name in this article! Oh. Well, at least once. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on April 19, 2008 at 06:40:40 PT OverwhelmSam I was checking out Obama's blog this morning and 35,000 people showed up in Philadelphia. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2168/2424443160_55daf979d1.jpg?v=0http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/caitlinharvey/gGCxFF/commentary#comments [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on April 19, 2008 at 05:13:01 PT OverwhelmSam I know there are many Republicans that will vote for Obama.I have high hopes for Barney Franks Bill that President Barack Obama would sign it as long as no vote happens under Bush this summer. Obamacans:A registered republican voter in the United States who has decided to cross over to the other party, the Democratic party, during the primary voting season of 2008 and vote for Democratic candidate Barack Obama for President of the United States."Eisenhower is one of a small but symbolically powerful group of what Obama recently called "Obamacans"—dis affected Republicans who have drifted away from their party just as Eisenhower Democrats did and, more recently, Reagan Democrats in the 1980s." - Newweek magazine By Richard Wolffe | Newsweek Web Exclusive, Feb 1, 2008 http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=obamacans [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by OverwhelmSam on April 19, 2008 at 04:55:05 PT FoM Spread the word, Obama is Dave. That should get the Repugnantcons voting for him. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by runruff on April 18, 2008 at 20:46:57 PT: If Rep Frank's bill passes congress, I doubt if the chimp in charge will put his X on it? [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on April 18, 2008 at 17:09:17 PT OverwhelmSam That looks like a good movie. Thanks for the trailer. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by OverwhelmSam on April 18, 2008 at 16:54:46 PT Here's a Trailer from Dave http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3516924185/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by OverwhelmSam on April 18, 2008 at 16:50:01 PT FoM I'll bet Barrack has seen the movie. He has the same type of understanding about what's wrong with the government that Dave did. Let everyone know, now we have an opportunity to elect the real Dave. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on April 18, 2008 at 16:43:54 PT OverwhelmSam I haven't seen that movie but it sounds interesting. Obama and Michelle are my kind of people. She is a strong and elegant lady. Obama makes perfect sense to me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by OverwhelmSam on April 18, 2008 at 16:35:08 PT Obama is Dave Barrack Obama reminds me of "Dave" the movie, Dave assisted people with finding work, he ended up taking over the presidency and did a better job than the real president. The people loved him.http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/letters/bal-ed.le.letters18a3apr18001519,0,6111027.storyHow is this on topic you ask? Barney Frank will introduce the bill under Obama's presidency, and Obama will sign it. Obama is Dave and everyone running against him is the corrupt staff in the movie. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on April 18, 2008 at 16:28:10 PT Dankhank I wish it was over too. One thing good is that if Obama gets the nomination he will win the general election. If he doesn't get the nomination I think all hell will break loose like back in 68.I like the Slate Delegate Calculator. I've played around with the numbers and made him lose by good margins and he still leads in delegates.http://www.slate.com/id/2185278/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Dankhank on April 18, 2008 at 15:45:24 PT election I don't care anymore, I'm just ready to vote for the democrat ...win/lose is such a harsh standard for them. can't we just all get along? [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on April 18, 2008 at 15:15:37 PT Dankhank Luckily it will be hard for Clinton to beat Obama at this point. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Dankhank on April 18, 2008 at 15:09:23 PT I hear ya ... I'm sure she is better, but not sure how much and where at.I'm sure of that ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on April 18, 2008 at 14:34:49 PT Dankhank My problem is if Obama doesn't get the nomination I don't think Hillary is any better then McCain. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Dankhank on April 18, 2008 at 14:24:15 PT McCain ... likely will get help from the "my guy or I go home crowd" that gets more attention than it should.Ron Paul was a good guy for a couple of reasons, but too "conservative" in other ways to be meaningful.The reasons that we rejected Paul are still valid and apply equally to McCain.To stay home and allow a possible Repug victory and all that would mean from purely a Supreme court perspective is suicidal. We need a "Liberal" to nominate candidates that have a sense of perspective. No one, save repugs, should stay home on election day. We still got a repug to beat. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by mykeyb420 on April 18, 2008 at 14:13:02 PT reason # 1 Here is reason # 1 why McCain won't win in Nov. Pentagon papers [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on April 18, 2008 at 12:37:52 PT Press Release From ASA Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act Introduced Yesterday in Congress***HR 5842 would reschedule marijuana for medical use, end federal interference in state laws *** WASHINGTON, DC - April 18 - Congressional Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced the "Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act," HR 5842, yesterday, a bill co-sponsored by Representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Sam Farr (D-CA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Ron Paul (R-TX). The act would change federal policy on medical marijuana in a number of ways. Specifically, HR 5842 would reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug, which cannot be prescribed, to a Schedule II drug, which would recognize the medical value of marijuana and create a regulatory framework for the FDA to begin a drug approval process for marijuana. The act would also prevent interference by the federal government in any local or state run medical marijuana program. CONTACT: Americans for Safe Access ASA Government Affairs Director Caren Woodson (510) 388-0546 Complete Article: http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0418-03.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on April 18, 2008 at 11:51:34 PT Hope This is the most positive I have felt in years. Change comes slowly. We sure have been waiting forever it seems. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Hope on April 18, 2008 at 11:35:55 PT I have decided to be very hopeful and positive... in spite of the "danger" of being disappointed.It's just better.Twenty four years! This is monumental. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on April 18, 2008 at 11:11:45 PT Hope I am hopeful but cautious. We need to get a majority of younger Democrats in power this fall and the Bills could pass I think. Old school Dems (unless they are young at heart) just won't do. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Hope on April 18, 2008 at 11:08:13 PT First time in 24 years!!! I'm walking on sunshine. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Hope on April 18, 2008 at 11:06:31 PT Frank's and Paul's Bill I'm hoping that Frank and Paul know they have more support in Congress for this bill than most of us realize.Bracing for the Prohibitionist's screaming to start any time now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 18, 2008 at 10:38:04 PT NYT Blog: Presidential Candidates on Marijuana By John TierneyApril 18, 2008USA -- For patients and doctors who want to use medical marijuana for pain relief, there’s more good news from researchers — and maybe signs of change in Washington. Barth Wilsey and colleagues at the University of California at Davis report in the Journal of Pain that medical marijuana proved effective in treating patients suffering from nerve damage related due to diabetes, spinal injury, multiple sclerosis and other causes. The study, which included a control group of patients who were given placebo cigarettes, found that the patients given real marijuana cigarettes experienced significant pain relief. As noted here at the Lab, a study published last year in Neurology by University of San Francisco researchers reported that marijuana was comparable to morphine in providing relief for patients suffering intense neuropathic foot pain associated with H.I..V. infections. This research may not make much difference in the last year of the Bush administration, which has justified its crackdown on medical marijuana by saying there’s no evidence of its efficacy, but could policies change next year? Bruce Mirken, who has been tracking the issue for the Marijuana Policy Project, says John McCain has been dismissive of marijuana’s medical potential and has been unclear on whether he’d continue federal raids against clinics in states that have legalized medical marijuana. Of the two leading Democratic candidates, Mr. Mirken says, Barack Obama has been clearer in his support for medical marijuana. Here are excerpts of what Mr. Obama told the Mail Tribune newspaper in Oregon, one of the states that has legalized medical marijuana: When it comes to medical marijuana, I have more of a practical view than anything else. My attitude is that if it’s an issue of doctors prescribing medical marijuana as a treatment for glaucoma or as a cancer treatment, I think that should be appropriate because there really is no difference between that and a doctor prescribing morphine or anything else. . . . I’m not familiar with all the details of the initiative that was passed [in Oregon] and what safeguards there were in place, but I think the basic concept that using medical marijuana in the same way, with the same controls as other drugs prescribed by doctors, I think that’s entirely appropriate.I would not punish doctors if it’s prescribed in a way that is appropriate. That may require some changes in federal law. I will tell you that . . . the likelihood of that being real high on my list is not likely. What I’m not going to be doing is using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue simply because I want folks to be investigating violent crimes and potential terrorism. We’ve got a lot of things for our law enforcement officers to deal with.” Here’s what Hillary Clinton said in a question-and-answer session with the Willamette Week newspaper in Oregon:What would you do as president about the federal government not recognizing Oregon’s Medical Marijuana Program as legal?We’ve got to have a clear understanding of the workings of pain relief and the control of pain. And there needs to be greater research and openness to the research that’s already been done. I don’t think it’s a good use of federal law-enforcement resources to be going after people who are supplying marijuana for medicinal purposes.So you’d stop the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s raids on medical marijuana grows?What we would do is prioritize what the DEA should be doing, and that would not be a high priority. There’s a lot of other more important work that needs to be done.URL: http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/presidential-candidates-on-marijuana/?ref=science [ Post Comment ] Post Comment