Pubdate: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY) Copyright: 2008 Johnson Newspaper Corp. Contact: http://www.ogd.com/letter.htm Website: http://www.ogd.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689 Author: Larry Seguin LEGALIZE POT To The Editor: Two marijuana bills have been introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives that will save the taxpayers billions of dollars. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., is a leader on both measures. The Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act (HR 5842) would reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act. The change would allow physicians to recommend use of marijuana under conditions set by state law. An Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults (HR 5843) would eliminate federal penalties for the possession of small amounts (up to 100 grams) or not-for-profit transfer of small amounts (up to one ounce, 28.3 grams) of marijuana. The bipartisan group of initial cosponsors includes Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas. Sam Farr, D-Calif., Frank, Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., and Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., The bill incorporates the basic recommendations of the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse, which was issued during the Nixon administration, in 1972. Last December Louis Nardozi did a Cost/Benefit Analysis of the war on drugs with figures from the Department of Justice's own statistics. The cost to taxpayers was $200,756,696,174 . That works out to be $669 for every man woman and child in America. Over the last 20 years every family of four has paid the equivalent of $28,122 to support the Drug War. Bills HR 5842 and HR 5843 chart a new course that would be a 'real' victory in the war on drugs. Larry Seguin Lisbon - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin