Barney Frank, Ron Paul Push Marijuana Legalization
Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ron Paul (R-TX) are pushing a bill that would let states legalize, regulate, tax, and control marijuana without interference from Washington. Under federal law, pot is verboten, so even in the 16 states (plus D.C.) where it’s legal for medical purposes, the feds can – and often do – bust growers, dispensaries and patients. The Frank bill, modeled after the repeal of alcohol Prohibition, would put a stop to this crazy situtation. It would also move marijuana from the FDA’s Schedule I (indicating it has no medical value, a high risk of abuse and is extremely harmful) to Schedule II, making it easier to access for research purposes (above all to investigate its medical potential). Does the bill have a chance? Nope. But it’s O.K.; the point is to move the needle in the right direction. As Morgan Fox of the pro-liberalization Marijuana Policy Project says,”The important thing is that it’s starting a conversation among lawmakers at a time when the rest of the country is already talking about the failure of marijuana prohibition.”[NYDN]
Related:
• Special Report: The Politics of Pot in America