Congressional bill would decriminalize marijuana

Here's an idea that's long overdue (not unlike a library book): Today, Rep. Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, introduced a much-needed bill in Congress. The bill would (at least at the federal level) effectively decriminalize possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana. The legislation would finally implement recommendations that were made by a White House commission - way back in 1972! (Nice to know Congress is only 36 years behind the Nixon administration.)

The bill doesn't erase state laws that criminalize pot. But it represents probably the first instance in my adult life of a congressional bill to relax federal penalties.

Congress ought to pass this bill immediately. I don't expect them to, of course. We know which way one party's going to vote - but as for the Democrats, however, this will be a good litmus test of which congresscritters are in cahoots with the DLC or the Blue Dogs. The War on Drugs is a War on People that hits the poorest Americans the hardest, so it's not just a culture war issue but an economic one.

We need to make the failed War on Drugs an issue in the presidential campaign. If we can't move the national Democrats to supporting less draconian drug policy, we have to assume they're no better than the Republicans.

(Source: https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?page=SplashPage&id=177&pagename=homepage)