Bill to end marijuana prohibition introduced in Congress.

[:1]I don't expect it to get anywhere yet. Baby steps first.


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Reps. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced a bipartisan bill today that would remove the federal prohibition on marijuana. The bill would instead let states legalize, regulate and tax marijuana.

USA Today reports the bill is being championed by a legalization advocacy group:

The Marijuana Policy Project highlights that 46.5% of Californians voted for Proposition 19. It also cites a report released this month by the Global Commission on Drug Policy that slammed the decades-old war on drugs and called on governments to take a look at decriminalizing marijuana and other drugs.

The bill by Frank and Paul would "end state/federal conflicts over marijuana policy, re-prioritize federal resources and provide more room for states to do what is best for their own citizens," the group says.

Politico says the legislation is modeled after the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, which repealed the federal prohibition on alcohol and handed that responsibility to the states. Quoting the Marijuana Policy Project, Politico reports it's "the first bill ever introduced in Congress to end federal marijuana prohibition."

But, as CNN money puts it, the bill is a long shot. But part of the point, adds CNN, is to start a conversation.|||A Republican? Holy ****, what?|||This has to pass so people will shut up about it.|||They want democrats to smoke up so bad, they won`t go voting anymore.|||Quote:








A Republican? Holy ****, what?




It actually makes sense. Ignoring the usual stiff stereotypes of Republicans, they want less federal involvement in some matters, and instead want to shift it to be the states' responsibility, if I'm not mistaken. It's one way of shrinking federal government that has potential benefits for them and the civilians. Mainly in that they can possibly somewhat decrease funding in stuff like the DEA and let the state governments work out their own ways of handling drug trafficking, meaning maybe those working in state governments get slightly less pay while the bigwigs at D.C. get to increase theirs, maybe.

Or maybe not. All I know is that aside from that last sentence that's how I see it making sense for a Republican to be involved.|||I can't see it. If that were the case, why not legalize *** marriage and abortions using the same mentality?|||Quote:








A Republican? Holy ****, what?




It's Ron Paul. He's one of those weird federalists that call themselves libertarians. He thinks everything should be done at the state level. For example, he wants to abolish the Department of Education in favor of state institutions. As far as I'm aware, he takes a similar view toward abortion and same sex marriage.

On topic, I doubt it will pass, but if the movement is making enough noise that Congressmen are proposing bills, it's only a matter of time. Now would be a particularly good time to do it though, since we could use all that revenue (both from taxation of marijuana and the unspent costs of marijuana prosecution) to pay our insane debt.|||Quote:








I can't see it. If that were the case, why not legalize *** marriage and abortions using the same mentality?




Because letting gays tie the knot brings about the end of civilization (even though other countries allow it already, they don't count) /sarcasm

I feel like I've said this before, but I don't really think pot SHOULD be legal. At the same time, I honestly hope they decriminalize / legalize it because our corrections system is just so full of drug offenders. Nothing would make me happier than if we could actually start putting violent criminals into jail/prison instead of giving them probation.

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On topic, I doubt it will pass, but if the movement is making enough noise that Congressmen are proposing bills, it's only a matter of time. Now would be a particularly good time to do it though, since we could use all that revenue (both from taxation of marijuana and the unspent costs of marijuana prosecution) to pay our insane debt.




If politicians REALLY wanted to end the debt, they would let the Bush Tax Cuts expire and then cut military spending.|||hahaha america cut military spending hahaha

**** that was a good joke|||Quote:








It's Ron Paul. He's one of those weird federalists that call themselves libertarians. He thinks everything should be done at the state level. For example, he wants to abolish the Department of Education in favor of state institutions. As far as I'm aware, he takes a similar view toward abortion and same sex marriage.




Because, after all, such anti-central-planning beliefs are simply bat-shyte insane. Everyone knows what a success central planning and centralized power is.

That being said, it <is> Ron Paul. He's a bit of a loon, even for many libertarians. He's been labeled anti-Israel, and he attracts the "Spare Change" crowd (semi-conservative 'Truthers') when he shows up somewhere.