Dear Supporter of Marijuana Law Reform,

The measure, HR 2943 , 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 (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.

Passage of this act would:

* Give states the option to explore legal alternatives to tax and regulate the adult use and distribution of cannabis free from federal interference.
* Provide state lawmakers the choice to maintain their current penalties for minor marijuana offenses/or eliminate them completely.

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.

http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=13568661 
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NORML would like to thank 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), for reintroducing legislation to limit the federal government's authority to arrest and prosecute minor marijuana offenders.

With an average of 6000 new supporters joining the NORML cause per week, it is clear that this MOVEMENT has serious momentum. It is time to energize, organize, and LEGALIZE!

Tell Your Representative to Support H.R. 2943!

Stay Free and Keep Fighting,
Sabrina
Sabrina Fendrick
NORML/NORML Foundation
www.norml.org

Like I've always said, if you want to get stoned with a full automatic AK-47 and a half a dozen hookers, hey, more power to you.

"zombieslayer" wrote:

I have never smoked pot in my life.


I think I'm going to look into purchasing a pound for Sunday's game.

Is that enough?

"dfosterf" wrote:

"dfosterf" wrote:

Porforis, it would be just as illegal to drive under the influence of intoxicating cannabis as it would be to drive under the influence of intoxicating alcohol. And the likelihood is that anyone who would do so if it were legal is already doing it anyway.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:

Roughly 13,000 of the inmates currently in Illinois prisons are serving time for non-violent, Class 4 felony drug possession. Not drug dealing, drug possession.

I understand the cost per inmate is in the neighborhood of $20,000 annually (plus or minus 5 grand). So, some quick math., 13,000 inmates times $20,000 each is $260 million.

Let's say we can put them into drug rehab for half that. That's $130 million annual savings. That sure helps close the structural deficit.

Source 

While many drugs clearly fall into the category of either stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogen, cannabis exhibits a mix of all properties, perhaps leaning the most towards hallucinogen or psychedelic properties, though with other effects quite pronounced as well.

Wikipedia 

The largest study of its kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer.

Source 

Concerns about stoned drivers careening across our nation's highways are frequently cited as a justification for the continued criminalization of marijuana. Given the massive casualties associated with drunk driving, it's easy to understand how the specter of increased roadside fatalities can be effective in reinforcing negative attitudes about marijuana. However, a new report reveals that, while stoned driving isn't smart, it's hardly the death sentence some would have us believe.

Although acute cannabis intoxication following smoking has been shown to mildly impair psychomotor skills, this impairment is seldom severe or long lasting. In closed course and driving simulator studies, marijuanas acute effects on psychomotor performance include minor impairments in tracking (eye movement control) and reaction time, as well as variation in lateral positioning, headway (drivers under the influence of cannabis tend to follow less closely to the vehicle in front of them), and speed (drivers tend to decrease speed following cannabis inhalation). In general, these variations in driving behavior are noticeably less consistent or pronounced than the impairments exhibited by subjects under the influence of alcohol. Also, unlike subjects impaired by alcohol, individuals under the influence of cannabis tend to be aware of their impairment and try to compensate for it accordingly, either by driving more cautiously or by expressing an unwillingness to drive altogether.

Source 

People in jail for drugs don't usually get there because they were caught one time with one joint.
There are reasons they are locked up.
And besides, it IS illegal, and if you choose to break the law, then you also choose the consequences.
I don't feel too sorry for people locked up in that case. They did the crime, now comes the time.
If "expense" is the reason you argue to do away with locking them up, then might as well just keep going and do away with even bigger laws.

"Cheesey" wrote:

Under federal law, marijuana is treated like every other controlled substance, such as cocaine and heroin. The federal government places every controlled substance in a schedule, in principle according to its relative potential for abuse and medicinal value. Under the CSA, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, which means that the federal government views marijuana as highly addictive and having no medical value.

If convicted and sentenced to jail, a minimum of 85% of that sentence must be served. The higher the marijuana amount, the more likely one is to be sentenced to jail time, as opposed to probation or alternative sentencing. Low-level offenses, even with multiple prior convictions, may end up with probation for the entire sentence of one to twelve months, and no jail time required.