Congressmen Ron Paul and Barney Frank talk Marijuana

Congressmen Barney Frank and Ron Paul

Recently I again had the chance to speak with two individuals who have been on the forefront of cannabis reform for some time. These gentlemen have voiced support for medical marijuana, decriminalization and industrial hemp farming from the House of Representatives in the United States Congress.

Congressmen Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ron Paul (R-TX) co-sponsored legislation in 2008 that would protect medical marijuana patients, remove federal penalties for small amounts of cannabis and allow for realistic hemp farming. These are quite literally, two of the hardest working Congressmen…ever. They are senior members of some of the most important committees such as House Foreign Relations and, in the case of Barney Frank, the chairman of the House Finance Committee.

They took some time this week to have serious discussions about marijuana reform for my public radio program, Active Voice Radio.

I asked them both about their federal legislation HR 5842 and HR5843, Attorney General Eric Holder’s statements on medical marijuana raids, President Obama’s online town-hall comments and Hemp farming.

Ron Paul noted that he does not see marijuana legalization as a tax issue, since he is anti-tax anyway, but sees the topic as a state’s rights and personal privacy issue. Congressman Paul also noted his own rather conservative district voters in Texas have never penalized him for his pro-reform positions. He spoke about the Industrial Hemp Farming Act as well, mentioning that he owns a few hemp t-shirts already.

Barney Frank congratulated the people in his home state of Massachusetts for decriminalizing marijuana possession in a ballot referendum this fall. Congressman Frank also discussed the economic crisis and offered a welcome bit of levity. This is one elected official with the street cred to joke. He also brought up the aspect of civil liberties and marijuana prohibition, illustrating the point with a recent, disturbing incident in New York City.

Here are some MP3 sample clips
Download audio file (4_2_09_cut1.mp3)
Congressman Barney Frank Clip 1

Download audio file (4_2_09_cut2.mp3)
Congressman Barney Frank Clip 2

Download audio file (4_2_09_cut3.mp3)
Congressman Ron Paul Clip 1

Download audio file (4_2_09_cut4.mp3)
Congressman Ron Paul Clip 2

These conversations were definitely a highlight of my week. The full interviews with Congressmen Ron Paul and Barney Frank are online at the Public Radio Exchange:

Rep. Paul – http://www.prx.org/pieces/34992

Rep. Frank – http://www.prx.org/pieces/34982

Locally, things are moving forward.

New Jersey has reached a critical stage for the medical marijuana bill. Having passed the Senate, The New Jersey Compassionate Use Marijuana Act is halfway through the legislative process. A804 is solid legislation that would immediately relieve the suffering of patients with medicine and protection. But only through continued support from NJ voters and active contact from those who are enduring debilitating medical conditions will the bill pass. www.cmmnj.org

In Pennsylvania, Rep. Mark B Cohen continues to enthusiastically work on the first draft of the medical marijuana bill for the Keystone State. Proving again that life is always stranger than fiction, the first opportunity that the medical access bill could be introduced is when the PA legislature reconvenes: Monday, April 20^th. You can’t make this stuff up. www.phillynorml.org

Marijuana reform is definitely a ‘mainstream’ issue now, so there has been no better time to send emails, call legislators, donate dollars and spend some time each day to help end cannabis prohibition. Important social justice issues only move ahead with consistent, positive actions and support.

The only thing that Change is waiting for is YOU!

You want to get marijuana legalized?  Then you have to do something about it.  The first and easiest thing you can do is get politically active.  Don’t give me that “I don’t want to be on a list” garbage, either; if you’ve clicked this far, you’re on a list (I’m kidding… kinda.  Under the PATRIOT ACT and new FISA Amendments, who knows?)

And don’t get fooled into believing your voice doesn’t matter “blah blah they’re all the same, they’re all bought out, we have no hope yada yada.”  First of all, you’re harshing my mellow, dude.  Second, that’s what prohibitionists are counting on – an uninformed and unmotivated public.

Your calls matter.  When a congressional office gets a direct, well-spoken call on an issue, they notice.  A hand-written letter is even better.  They know that few people take the time to actually call, so those that do must represent dozens of people who don’t have the time but agree with the caller.

It’s also really easy.  You call 202-224-3121 (save it in your cell phone).  They ask you for your zip code.  They ask whether you want your Representative (we all have one) or one of your Senators (we all have two).  If you’re calling about a House Bill (or an “HB”), ask for the Representative.  If you’re calling about a Senate Bill (or an “SB”), ask for one senator then call back and ask for the other.

Have a pen and paper handy.  Write down the names of your representative and senators, and be ready to write down the names of the staff members who answer.  When you start referring to their staff by name, they really know you’re serious about the issue.  (Sounds silly, but it’s a tiny little touch that pays huge dividends.)

Then just read up on the issues below and next thing you know, you’re a political activist!  Don’t forget to Smoke the Vote – get yourself and five friends registered to vote and make a difference!  Here’s how I start my calls:

“Hi, my name is Russ Belville, and I am a registered voter and constituent of Representative Blumenauer’s from Portland, Oregon.  I’m calling to urge my representative to support/oppose some legislation that is very important to me.”

I pause so the person on the end of line recognizes what kind of call it is and mentally figures out who needs to take it… they might ask for my name and address… eventually asks me “which legislation?”

HR5843 – Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults

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.

You say:  “I would like Representative So-and-So to sign on as a cosponsor to Barney Frank’s HR5843, the Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults.  It’s time we stop treating marijuana use as literally a federal crime!  Personal marijuana use is a health issue and we can’t keep wasting our police resources on it when we have to worry about terrorism and crime.”

HR5842 – Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act

Marijuana is moved from schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to schedule II of such Act.  No provision of the Controlled Substances Act [or 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–

(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.

You say: “I would like Representative So-and-So to sign on as a cosponsor to Ron Paul’s HR5842, the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act.  If the states have decided to allow sick and disabled people use marijuana, then the federal government should keep their hands off.”

SB1211 – Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act of 2007

Adds the new sentencing enhancement of “marketing to minors” to the mandatory minimum sentences definition, as follows:

…who manufactures, creates, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute a controlled substance that is flavored, colored, packaged, or otherwise altered in a way that is designed to make that controlled substance more appealing to a person under twenty-one years of age, or who attempts or conspires to do so,

The intent here is to go after “chronic candy” sold in California dispensaries that looks like popular candy bars but is cannabis medicine in edible candy form.  But conceivably, pot brownies – popular with many patients, could be considered more “appealing” to youngsters than smoking.

You say: “I would urge Senator So-and-So to oppose Dianne Feinstein’s SB1211.  She’s calling it the Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act, but what this bill really does is limit the already limited choices for suffering medical marijuana patients in twelve states, and it is so loosely worded that many legitimate patients would suffer.”

Call your Congress today and tell your representative to support our two pro-marijuana bills in the House:

Washington, DC: US Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced legislation in Congress Friday to strip the federal government of its authority to arrest responsible adult cannabis consumers. The measure, H.R. 5843, known as an “Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults,” is the first federal decriminalization legislation introduced in 24 years. Frank’s pending bill, co-sponsored by presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), seeks to eliminate all federal penalties prohibiting the personal use and possession of up to 100 grams (3 1/2 ounces) of marijuana. Under this measure, adults who consume cannabis would no longer face arrest, prison, or even the threat of a civil fine. The bill also eliminates all penalties for the not-for-profit transfers of up to one ounce of pot. All are encouraged to write their representatives in support of this important legislation via NORML’s online advocacy system.

Washington, DC: Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced H.R. 5842, the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act,” earlier today. This bill would make federal authorities respect states’ current laws on medicinal cannabis and end DEA raids on facilities distributing medical marijuana legally under state law. Representative Paul, whose presidential campaign prominently featured the ending of the drug war as a platform plank, was joined by Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) in sponsoring this bill. All NORML supporters are strongly encouraged to write their Representatives in favor of this important bill via NORML’s online advocacy system.