Marijuana Reform Bill HR 5843

Representative Barney Frank, D-Mass has sponsored a new bill that would eliminate the Federal penalty for Marijuana possession for personal use. The Bill is also being co-sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul R-TX. It appears the primary reasoning for introducing this bill is because millions of Americans use Marijuana, and since 1960 there have been 20 million arrests for marijuana use and possession. In a day and age when our prisons are so full that the doors swing open for violent criminals, then the courts and penal systems are spending far too many tax payers dollars to prosecute a lot of people who beyond enjoying a little social herb, have not harmed anyone.

The Marijuana Reform Bill HR 5843 will not remove penalties for growing, importing or exporting, or selling for profit the marijuana, but it will remove the penalties for it's responsible use. Rep Ron Paul said, "We do not arrest and jail responsible alcohol drinkers". We should not infringe upon the rights of individuals to use Marijuana responsibly as long as they are abiding by the constitutional premise of freedom as long as it does not infringe upon the rights and freedoms of others and the user is not harming others or their property.

During the founding of our country, many states had laws that required farmers to grow a certain percentage of their farmland in hemp, (marijuana), because it was such a strong natural fiber, it makes paper easily, it can be used for fuel. In fact Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on Hemp paper, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp and owned a mill that made hemp paper. Its medicinal benefits were recognized by the Federal Government in the 1970's in their compassionate IND program which began in 1978, where the federal government legalized the medicinal use for some patients until too many people applied to the program, then they canceled the program. There are still some of these patients alive today in which the Federal government provides their medicine. IND stands for investigational New Drug, and during the studies they have found no negative or adverse effects to the use of marijuana for these patients. Today, it is a double standard that they should supply marijuana for some and arrest others for a federal crime. That in my opinion is a Federal Crime.

The Federal Government on their website says that marijuana has no medicinal use and it is dangerous and harmful to the smoker, however there are millions who have smoked it for years. There are many people who are on Medicinal Marijuana programs within states that have the Medicinal program, who apparently do benefit from it's use. Marijuana has been studied by many groups and some studies show it to be safer than aspirin and a safer alternative to many pharmaceuticals. I believe there in lies the lies about it's dangers. Heck, Cheech and Chong have been smokers for life, and they seem to be doing well.

More recently a study was done on Marijuana's effects on cancer with positive results. Arthritic patients in medicinal states get the relief from the pain without the corrosive and potentially deadly effects of NSAIDS like Motrin or Advil. Pharmaceutical glaucoma medications have side effects and many users will tell you Marijuana is not only more effective but the side effects, if any, are pleasant. One medical patient in California was busted for using marijuana which he used for 8 years to control his epilepsy, and for 8 years he claimed he never had a seizure. After being arrested he went on to pharmaceutical medications and shortly thereafter he had a seizure while driving his car and was killed. There are also many people who are allergic to chemical and pharmaceutical meds who can get relief from this plant where the use of pharmaceuticals can kill them, or they can suffer the torture of their pain and condition. marijuana has been traced through out history to be used as a pharmaceutical medicine and it hasn't been until just the past 70-80 years that it has been demonized, and I don't think it was the users that were the demons. movies like Refer Madness created an image of Marijuana that was nothing short of all out lies and most people know this now. We've been lied to about its use, its users, and it's history. By the way, the United States Constitution, AKA Old Ironsides, (the ship), was made from some 20,000 tons of hemp among its building materials.

Marijuana is an herb, it was sanctioned by God in Genesis as being, (among all the herbs), Meat for mans consumption, however for the first time in the history of mankind it was illegalized which was apparently backed by big industry that stood to lose a lot of money for products and industrial processes that Marijuana could replace cheaper and easier.

I grew up in the 60's hippie era, I've seen a majority of kids try it, no one got hurt or became violent, (I can't say the same for alcohol), so for one, I say it is about time. Let our law enforcement focus on getting the bad guys and the violent criminals, don't they have enough to do already?

Some interesting reading for those who do not know -

Harvard University: Marijuana Cuts Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Half, Study Shows
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm

Washington Post, University of California finds smoking Marijuana does not lead to lung cancer:

WebMD: Marijuana May Slow Alzheimer's:
That's because the marijuana compound blocks the formation of brain-clogging Alzheimer's plaques better than current Alzheimer's drugs.

There are many benefits to Marijuana's use medicinally as well as health wise. Once again, in the end science is confirming what was already written in the Bible.

HR 5843:
http://www.house.gov/frank/hr5843summary.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/30/frank.marijuana/index.html

YouTube Video News Coverage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPLH-Q41PJA

Marijuana Reform Bill HR 5843 would open the use of this medicinal herb more freely so we can learn how beneficial this plant can be, of course the Pharma companies are not likely to sit quietly while this bill is up for voting, in fact I think I hear their pockets jingling now. He who has the gold makes the rules you know.