Pubdate: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY) Copyright: 2008 Watertown Daily Times Contact: http://www.wdt.net Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792 Author: Larry Seguin A CHANGE OF COURSE IN WAR ON DRUGS Two marijuana bills have been introduced into the 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 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 co-sponsors includes Reps. Ron Paul, R-Texas: Sam Farr, D-Calif.; Frank Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., and Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif. The bill incorporated the basic recommendations of the National Commission of 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 $699 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