Congress Sets Sights On Cannabis Prohibition Laws; Major Press Conference Today In Washington

July 30, 2008, Washington, D.C,: Today something rather historic on a number of counts occurred in the nation’s capital. Firstly, Congress is for the first time in a generation (1978) taking a serious look at reforming components of cannabis prohibition laws. In today’s Congress, the support of the Congressional Black Caucus is pivotal to passing any substantive cannabis law reform. So I was so very heartened that Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and William Lacy Clay (D-MO) joined us on this very hot and oppressively humid day in DC, along with the always jocose Barney Frank (D-MA), the bill’s primary sponsor (along with Rep. Ron Paul, R-TX).

Second, the media attending today’s press conference on HR 5843, a bill that would decriminalize marijuana possession and use for responsible adults, fairly captured the event’s narrative, i.e., ‘it makes no sense to treat cannabis consumers like criminals’ and ‘why not start controlling cannabis in the same way society (and government agencies) already control alcohol products?’ with no double entendre or goofy ‘stoner stupidisms’. You can view a CNN video of the press conference here. Also, you can check out some YouTube footage here of my opening remarks.

Bill Piper from the Drug Policy Alliance spoke about the collateral effects that happen to citizens arrested for minor amounts of cannabis including, but not limited to: loss of student loans; denial to public housing, food stamps and job training; and denial of entry into the military and some government service jobs.

Rob Kampia from the Marijuana Policy Project discussed the broader implications of the federal government passing decriminalization legislation and how it could affect state efforts to reform cannabis laws, notably this November’s decriminalization initiative on the ballot in Massachusetts.

As has been noted by others who attended today’s press conference, there was a certain air of desperation coming from the part of the government who is responsible for supposedly ‘controlling’ currently illicit drugs. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)chief propagandist David Murray attended the press conference, making himself available for questions afterwards and handing out his latest anti-cannabis handywork, and he seemed absolutely befuddled that anyone on the face of the planet could possibly compare cannabis and alcohol policies, and that there is no such thing as the responsible use of cannabis. Period. Even for medical purposes with a physician’s recommendation. Period.

Wow. Can you say, ‘flat earth’?

Indeed, there is much work to be done in cannabis law reform in the Executive Branch (which, astonishingly, is where ONDCP resides) and so-called anti-drug agencies. The tale Hercules and the cleansing of the Augean stables immediately comes to mind…

As Chairman Frank noted in his prepared remarks, HR 5843 (and similar legislation HR 5842, which regards medical marijuana rescheduling) are not likely to come a full committee for vote until well into 2009. Given this candid assessment by Rep. Frank, for NORML members and advocates of cannabis law reform, there are still important phases that we can all help accomplish that will hasten passage of these important and reform-minded bills.

Rep. Frank and the other current co-sponsors of HR 5843 will be sending around a ‘Dear Colleague” letter soon encouraging other members of the House to join them early on in support of their bill for the decriminalization of cannabis for responsible adult use and, therefore, like all legislation in the Congress, the more co-sponsors of a legislative bill, the better chance the bill’s chance of passage.

With the change of presidency in the wings and a likely increase in the number of Democratic members being elected to the House of Representatives, NORML’s expectations for HR 5843 is for there to be both subcommittee and full committee votes on Judiciary regarding this important legislation late into 2009.

Importantly, NORML members and advocates of cannabis law reform, for the next six months, need to truly concentrate their advocacy efforts on actively recruiting each of our elected members of Congress to become co-sponsors of HR 5843. Of the many lobbying and advocacy efforts one can employ to advance cannabis law reforms in America, getting a federal cannabis decriminalization bill passed and signed into law is the single most politically achievable public policy advance that is likely to happen in Congress in the next few years.

As our democracy prescribes, states will continue to largely serve as the catalyst of change and innovation in public policy making regarding cannabis, and this is very likely going to continue to happen with more and more municipalities and states passing progressive cannabis laws—at some point, ultimately, positively affecting the federal government.

At least that is how it is supposed to work, right?

Stay tuned to NORML!

FYI: CNN is running a one-day online poll asking about citizen support for legalizing cannabis, the current tally midday today is 65% in favor, 35% against. Take the survey ASAP at cnn.com, lower right-hand corner of their page…

free the pot heads!

pin this

People who smoke pot do not bother me in any way. On the other hand the people that sell the stuff in the streets along with the crazy cops are a threat everytime I go out and walk the streets. Sell pot in the stores and remove the threat of violence from the streets.

OMG.

it could pull us out of this economic depression and give us all jobs.

Thats probably why they don't want to do it. Actually laundering drug money on Wall Street is the only thing that keeeps those criminals in business.

It would also open the door for products and fuel not based on oil. And, it would provide new taxes to get us out from under the Bush debaucle.

As Chairman Frank noted in his prepared remarks, HR 5843 (and similar legislation HR 5842, which regards medical marijuana rescheduling) are not likely to come a full committee for vote until well into 2009. Given this candid assessment by Rep. Frank, for NORML members and advocates of cannabis law reform, there are still important phases that we can all help accomplish that will hasten passage of these important and reform-minded bills.

Rep. Frank and the other current co-sponsors of HR 5843 will be sending around a ‘Dear Colleague” letter soon encouraging other members of the House to join them early on in support of their bill for the decriminalization of cannabis for responsible adult use and, therefore, like all legislation in the Congress, the more co-sponsors of a legislative bill, the better chance the bill’s chance of passage.

With the change of presidency in the wings and a likely increase in the number of Democratic members being elected to the House of Representatives, NORML’s expectations for HR 5843 is for there to be both subcommittee and full committee votes on Judiciary regarding this important legislation late into 2009.

You might be thinking of crack...


I don't know about big cities, but round here there's no such thing as a street level marijuana dealer.

YOU HAVE TO CALL AND CALL AND CALL THAT ASSHOLE FOR SOME GOOD IF YOU HAVEN'T GROWN UYOUR OWN SO FRUSTRATING.

if they would just legalize the stuff and tax it like alcohol and cigarettes they would make a killing, hemp products could produce new jobs, not the smoking grade of hemp either that would just be the added bonus of the lift of prohibition.

but if it makes sense then the govt probably wont endorse it.

Probably not gonna happen anytime soon, even if obama is pres.

On that note I'm about to purchase a half pound so i can make a grand this fall when all my pothead friends come back to school. Believe me, there is a reason that WVU is known as the #1 party school. Finding drugs here is easier than walking down to the local pharmacy for some advil.

It will happen sooner than many think


It is from the Most High


"and all PLANTS AND HERBS, I give to man, THOSE BEARING SEED..." Genesis
(does that mean GMO/GE sterile seeds do not eat???)

or genes of isis

Kaneh Bos(m) what is it???It is part of ANNOINTING OIL.



research and KNOW THE TRUTH

They have profited greatly from the destruction of the earth, the animals, and humanity

Know the profits is what motivated them-for their Hearst empires-hemp paper was a grave threat to their profit...bayer,Lilly,Merck, a threat to them, and the Monsanto,dupont,novartis,syngenta, and on and on-a threat to them and even to BIG OIL

Yes, hemp burns sooOoOo much cleaner


In humans there are cannebinoid receptors in the brain, intestines, and all joint spaces-all of them

WAKE UP


COME OUT OF THE LAND OF NOD

Zion is ahead

So the government say pot has no uses, medicinal or otherwise. Then why are pharmaceutical companies rushing to isolate drugs from marijuana? The reason is the profit margins like marinol tabs for up to 50.00 per pill! If the Feds are cracking down on medical pot users then they sure as hell should be clamping down on pharmaceutial corps as they are essentially flouting the same laws. Either a class action lawsuit to force them to cease and desist or more logical and sane would be the recognition of multiple worldwide studies of the medicinal benefits of marijuana, the decriminalization, taxation and distribution as another profit center for big gov. Which is the REAL reason tobacco has never been regulated even though nicotine is more addictive than heroin or cocaine- the US gov. reaps over 100BILLION per year in tobacco taxes, tariffs, etc.

I have to wonder how they got the idea that they could control a natural plant that grows anywhere. I wish they would outlaw the common sandspur.
Most folks can grow their own hemp. Wouldn't that cut into any tax on it?

I like that quote from the bible. Has anyone asked the "faithful" why it is that they are against the use of recreational hemp when their own document declares that it is Good?

Why don't people grow their own tobacco?

It is people like this guy here that needs to be replaced in the government. It is people like this guy who is responsible for all the innocent lives ruined for no reason daily. Let us replace him with someone with more wisdom.

People like this guy who work for government are not there because of their "wisdom".

They are there because they are philosophical robots to the executive leadership. A "David Murray" is a stooge, in other words - his own feelings and opinions do not matter, and may even be at odds with what comes out of his mouth. David Murray is a talking head spewing talking points, because that is his job.

There are so many things right with this Frank/Paul bill, and so many things wrong with the USA's hypocritical current drug "policy". I sincerely hope they have success breaking thru the thick skulls of American "leadership".

It will never happen. Period. The scum know it will liberate the people and economy and provide oil for fuel,paper,and hurt the fascist corporations.

The scum may know that and they may work their dark magick but it will not avail them


The Most High has given it to man-let the Most High school them-they will desist for they although threatening and aggressive in fomenting their agenda-it is well beyond their control


It is something tptb CANNOT PREVENT-their time is running out-they will continue with the chronic chaos,and try and control,but it will become more difficult for them and they shall continue stasi style,but it will not avail them

sooner than many think-watch and see,know and believe

Those who know truth agree on this, the mountain of deception will move now.Can we agree of this?

The sooner we do the faster it will happen

Lava is flowing and many mountains defiant will be made molten

so it shall be

put all your pins in this one.

(provisional)..



-

you think they would crash there own market like a c eye ay drug plane?

Well it WAKES PEOPLE UP...OPENS THE MIND..

That is the last thing that they want!..

It's quite simple, imo.

TPTB need money, and they're running out of things to tax.

Bonus for us!!

Sweet...I wouldn't have to fly to Amsterdamn then!

I'd be happy just to grow my own.

Haha, that one of the Governments biggest cash cows , they re-sell alot of that reefer for themselves. They just give it to the dealers who are on they payroll, or other cops... or the cops are the dealers ... oohh