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Written by WiG
Jan 26, 2012
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank
A push is on to repeal federal marijuana prohibition in 2012 – before the two main sponsors of the legislation exit Congress.
U.S. Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Ron Paul, R-Texas, will not be running for re-election in November. Frank has decided to pursue other interests and Paul is campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination.
The two lawmakers are the strongest supporters of legislation to end federal marijuana prohibition, which is seen as a major obstacle to enacting medical marijuana laws at the state level.
This week, the national Drug Policy Alliance urged a citizens lobbying campaign to encourage sponsorship of H.R. 2306, which would end federal marijuana prohibition and allow states to set their own marijuana policy without federal interference.
DPA said congressional action would end federal raids on state-authorized medical marijuana dispensaries in California.
A Gallup poll has found that marijuana legalization is supported by a majority of independent voters, as well as majorities in Western, Eastern and Midwestern states.
Medical marijuana is legalized in 16 states, while a medical marijuana bill is pending in Wisconsin.
“We need other legislators to continue the fight that Reps. Frank and Paul started,” said DPA national affairs director Bill Piper. “Even though many lawmakers privately support ending marijuana prohibition, only some of them are courageous enough to take a public stand.”
