Lawmakers Call For An End To Federal Marijuana Prosecutions

[tridim]

Finally!

June 18, 2009

Washington, DC: Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank, along with co-sponsors Ron Paul (R-TX); Maurice Hinchey (D-NY); Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA); and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), will reintroduce legislation today to limit the federal government’s authority to arrest and prosecute minor marijuana offenders.

The measure, entitled an “Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults,” would eliminate federal penalties for the personal possession of up to 100 grams (over three and one-half ounces) of cannabis and for the not-for-profit transfer of up to one ounce of pot – making the prosecutions of these offenses strictly a state matter.

Under federal law, defendants found guilty of possessing small amounts of cannabis for their own personal use face up to one year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.

Passage of this act would provide state lawmakers the choice to maintain their current penalties for minor marijuana offenses or eliminate them completely. Lawmakers would also have the option to explore legal alternatives to tax and regulate the adult use and distribution of cannabis free from federal interference.

More
http://blog.norml.org/2009/06/18/lawmakers-call-for-an-end-to-federal-marijuana-prosecutions/

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1. K&R

[tridim]

2. This was also introduced this week.. The Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-2835

HR 2835 IH

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2835

To provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 11, 2009

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts (for himself, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. FARR, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. PAUL, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. STARK, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. OLVER, and Ms. BALDWIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce


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A BILL

To provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act’.

SEC. 2. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT.

(a) Schedule- Marijuana is moved from schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to schedule II of such Act.

(b) Prescription or Recommendation-

(1) IN GENERAL- No provision of the Controlled Substances Act shall prohibit or otherwise restrict in a State in which marijuana may be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use under applicable State law--

(A) the prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use;

(B) an individual from obtaining, possessing, or transporting within their State, manufacturing or using marijuana in accordance with a prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use by such individual hereinafter in this section referred to as ‘an authorized patient’;

(C) an individual authorized under State law to obtain, possess, transport within their State, or manufacture marijuana from obtaining, possessing, transporting within their State, or manufacturing marijuana on an authorized patient’s behalf; or

(D) a pharmacy or other entity authorized under local or State law to distribute medical marijuana to authorized patients from obtaining, possessing or distributing marijuana to such authorized patients.

(2) PRODUCTION- No provision of the Controlled Substances Act shall prohibit or otherwise restrict an entity authorized by a State or local government, in which marijuana may be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use, for the purpose of producing marijuana for prescription or recommendation by a physician for medical use from producing, processing, or distributing marijuana for such purpose.

SEC. 3. FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT.

(a) In General- No provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act shall prohibit or otherwise restrict in a State in which marijuana may be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use under applicable State law--

(1) the prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use;

(2) an individual from obtaining, possessing, or transporting within their State, manufacturing, or using marijuana in accordance with a prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use by such individual, hereinafter in this section referred to as ‘an authorized patient’;

(3) an individual authorized under State law to obtain, possess, transport within their State, or manufacture marijuana from obtaining, possessing, transporting within their State, or manufacturing marijuana on an authorized patient’s behalf; or

(4) a pharmacy or other entity authorized under local or State law to distribute medical marijuana to authorized patients from obtaining, possessing or distributing marijuana to such authorized patients.

(b) Production- No provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act shall prohibit or otherwise restrict an entity authorized by a State or local government, in which marijuana may be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use, for the purpose of producing marijuana for prescription or recommendation by a physician for medical use from producing, processing, or distributing marijuana for such purpose.

SEC. 4. RELATION OF ACT TO CERTAIN PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO SMOKING.

This Act does not affect any Federal, State, or local law regulating or prohibiting smoking in public.

[katandmoon]

3. Good luck with that...

[tridim]

4. Text of the bill, HR 5843

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-5843

HR 5843 IH

110th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5843

To eliminate most Federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 17, 2008

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts (for himself and Mr. PAUL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned


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A BILL

To eliminate most Federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults'.

SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN MARIJUANA-RELATED PENALTIES.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no penalty may be imposed under an Act of Congress for the possession of marijuana for personal use, or for the not-for-profit transfer between adults of marijuana for personal use. For the purposes of this section, possession of 100 grams or less of marijuana shall be presumed to be for personal use, as shall the not-for-profit transfer of one ounce or less of marijuana, except that the civil penalty provided in section 405 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 844a) may be imposed for the public use of marijuana if the amount of the penalty does not exceed $100.

[flyboyscotty68]

5. I hate these assholes

They are still trying to keep the black market. If 100 grams is ok; then 1000000000 grams should be ok. These assholes preach about their free market, except when it comes to medical marijuana. Then it changes to only non-profit. I say if these assholes pass this then we should make ALL dugs companies be non-profit. Why is it ok to make a profit from every other drug, except marijuana. This is total bullshit. Get the f@*k out of the way already. Get the f&#king government out of our medicine cabinets. It should be in schedule 4 or 5. Putting it in 2 is bullshit. Better than 1, but, STILL A LIE.