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H.R. 2943, The Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009 (65 comments ↓ | 3 wiki edits)
H.R. 2943 would eliminate most Federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use.
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Visitor Comments 
Self
June 20, 2009, 4:26am (report abuse)Medical use of marijuana should be legal. It saves people suffering and even lives.
Prohibition against marijuana has helped out gangs and the criminal element and been the cause of a lot of violence. Even if someone opposes use of marijuana they have to see drug policy hasn't been just from its results and uneven punishment.
Jennifer Buckley
June 21, 2009, 12:12am (report abuse)Marijuana should be legal. Thanks to mandatory sentencing for drug possession/distribution, violent offenders are having to be released early due to overcrowing. This is a bigger threat to public safety than adults using a drug that is less harmful than alcohol.
Stacy Remy
June 22, 2009, 11:14am (report abuse)Now is the time for change, and this is the right way to do it! I hope those against it can see past their own predjudice and recognize the greater good for this nation. We need the proper regulation for a strong nation/family unit. I would like to show my children someday with pride that we do live with a place where their voice matters and change is posible if you stand up and speak for what you believe in. Pass this bill and keep all the parents of america home with their families and not in jail for simply needing a short moment to feel the calming effects of THC thru their system to be better and more patient parent. Imagine a world of melow, non-paraniod responsible adults chosing this over alchohol and the reduction in anger and violence. Get your friends and family involved if you feel strongly for this change!
jimmyE
(logged in user) June 27, 2009, 1:02pm (report abuse)Since 1973, 13 state legislatures -- Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Oregon -- have enacted versions of marijuana decriminalization. In November 2008, Massachusetts voters passed a statewide initiative making the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana an infraction punishable by no more than a $100 fine. The law took effect on January 2, 2009. In each of these states, marijuana users no longer face jail time (nor in most cases, arrest or criminal records) for the possession or use of small amounts of marijuana. According to national polls, voters overwhelmingly support these policies. In Oregon, voters recently reaffirmed their state's decriminalization law by a 2-1 margin in a statewide referendum. Federal law should reflect what the people of these states are saying about marijuana laws.
Rich Croucher
June 27, 2009, 6:35pm (report abuse)If you really look at it the benefits just from legalizing hemp alone are amazing. It can be used to make gasoline, clothes, fiber broad stronger than wood, even plastics that are biodegradable unlike a lot of the chemically produced goods today. For over five thousand years cannabis was a huge part of everyday life, then was made illegal not because it was harmful but all because of the politics behind it. Also, cannabis has been proven to be useful in many medical situations... and has been proven to be healthier than smoking and drinking. The federal government keeps insisting that there is no such thing as medical cannabis, then how come they have been sending out cannabis to a select few for medical purposes for the last few decades; long before states tried the same thing. And now the federal government is saying they are wrong for that. It is time to stop with the lies and just see it for what it is, A GREAT THING!
Jared
June 28, 2009, 10:17pm (report abuse)It's time to admit that marijuana is not the demonized drug that our great-grandparents made it out to be 75 years ago. Legalizing it would add on billions yearly in state and federal revenue, I personally feel that we would experience a decrease in crime, since there would no longer be a need to buy marijuana on the black market. Mexican gangs running marijuana through California would experience a major decline, and a decline in any violent gang is okay by me! Legalize marijuana!
Stephanie739
June 29, 2009, 12:21am (report abuse)I just want to show my support. Cannabis is a blessing - medicinal, industrial, and recreational. Prohibition has failed (again).
Freedom
June 29, 2009, 11:05pm (report abuse)I guess the government can keep lying if they want, but as for us, we will live in the truth. It is a shame to be attacked just for being a peaceful family person. Some politicians should have more guts and take a stand for truth for once.
cyberclone
June 30, 2009, 7:22pm (report abuse)Check out HR 2943 and HR 2835 as they go through the Bill to Law process and support them.
redhawk888
July 9, 2009, 6:13pm (report abuse)Now that everyone is in accordance that the pharmaceutical, alcohol, tobacco,health and prison industries/ lobbyists are responsible for the criminalization of CANNABIS (refrain from the term Marijuana)due to the direct effect it shall and will have on their profits, we can all move on to the next steps of informing everyone of the tireless effort that these political GOONS have put forth in waging war on us citizens. I take offense to these actions and have united with MILLIONS of my peers (as many others have)to form an ARMY of individuals that embrace responsibility, accountability, power of action. We are powerful beings that can behave responsibly, in contrast to the undying misinformation that these media whores force feed our nation daily. Cannabis will be legal. We have made the choice to make it so. F#@% THE FED! United States are more powerful than the tiny little area of D.C. Power To the States! One love brothers and sisters. See you on the flipside...
Ben Grise' Kansas City
July 10, 2009, 3:55pm (report abuse)WWW.MPP.ORG I have recently been active with contacting my congressman and local legislators telling them my opinion; which is decriminilization if not outright legalization. You can too WWW.MPP.ORG, if you do not already know of the site visit and click the "Take Action" prompt they make it extremely easy for you to e-mail your local legislators. WWW.MPP.ORG.
Chris from Indiana
July 14, 2009, 1:19am (report abuse)It is unreasonable for marijuana to be illegal, especially for medical purposes, when alcohol and tobacco are legal and far more harmful. Simple as that. Oh, do not forget the FDA approved drugs that take people’s lives either. Finally our federal government is realizing that marijuana prohibition has failed just like the prohibition of alcohol failed.
Josh from Florida
July 17, 2009, 2:59pm (report abuse)The benefits of cannibis cannot be denied. The uses are many, and the drawbacks are few. People now have a better understanding of this plant than they did years ago. Times have changed and now hopefully our government and elected officials will take notice and work towards the fulfillment of their constituent's wishes. The fact that cannibis is in the same classification as heroin and cocaine is astounding to me. Looking at the facts, there is no reason for this classifications. Compare the fatalities where alcohol was involved to that of just cannibis, and you will be amazed. Prohibition has failed. A vast number of citizens know the benefits.
Todd
July 20, 2009, 4:11pm (report abuse)I hope our politicians get their heads out of their butts and support this. The time for this change is way overdue.
Willis
July 24, 2009, 12:04pm (report abuse)There is a web site that you can draft a letter and send it to the president, your senators, and representatives all at once( www3.capwiz.com/c-span/home/ ). Check it out and support these bills HR2835 and HR2943 both introduced by Barney Frank!
Michigan Voter
July 25, 2009, 12:06am (report abuse)I was extremely paranoid to sign the petition putting medical marijuana on the Michigan 2008 ballot. It eventually garnered more votes than Obama. People are ready, even if Legislators are skiddish, to legalize, tax, and end prohibition.
ae780
(logged in user) July 25, 2009, 11:29pm (report abuse)For me it's just common sense that we stop ruining lives and wasting police resources going after petty marijuana users.
Our last three presidents have smoked marijuana as well as many other successful Americans.
Would any of our last three presidents have benefited by being arrested and losing their educations or right to vote or numerous other freedoms you lose with a petty marijuana conviction.
It's time to rethink our marijuana laws in America.
FREEMJ
July 27, 2009, 7:48pm (report abuse)A teen gets arrested for having even a small amount of marijuana and they could lose their ability to get federal student aid. A potentially life altering consequence for possessing something that we all KNOW is not as harmful as its made out to be. If that's not cruel and unusual punishment, then I don't know what is. As intelligent and responsible as we have become as a society, we still turn a blind eye to the atrocities happening in our own backyards. Stop putting non-violent, average, everyday people in jail for doing something that causes no harm to anyone except the wallets of the pharmaceutical and alcohol companies.
freechoice
August 11, 2009, 11:29pm (report abuse)Simply put, please let Americans regain the freedom of choice as dictated by our forefathers. If we are free to choose firearms, tobacco, and alcohol products (all of which have lethal and more damaging effects on society) I see no reason why this substance should not be afforded the same leniency, especially in light of the known beneficial statistics. Not only has it been shown to be of legitimate medical use, but commercial applications are far reaching as well. Do the right thing, and let the people have the rights granted to us by our founders be preserved as they were intended. Thank you in advance for your support.
pleaseohpleaseohplease
August 16, 2009, 11:56am (report abuse)I believe in God and his good works. It was the twisted minds of frightened and greedy people that made cannabis something less than a wonderful gift in the public eye. Other gripes I have don't sound so nice. Let's do this thing!
thatguy
August 16, 2009, 12:11pm (report abuse)i just became a medical marijuana patient in California and let me tell you, it is GREAT. The best medicine with no hassle if the rest of the country could enjoy this it would benefit everyone, except the pharmaceutical companies.
Loofa
August 16, 2009, 12:52pm (report abuse)As a law enforcement officer I am sick of having to deal with marijuana issues. If we took it out of the hands of the drug dealers and put it into responsible, legitimate, distribution channels the only dangerous part of marijuana use would be gone. Whenever possible I try to overlook the use of marijuana. I will take and destroy the drug and/or paraphernalia before giving someone a criminal record.
I am for the legalization.
Jack from chicago
August 16, 2009, 1:01pm (report abuse)Unfortunately it's the lobbyists that are keeping marijuana illegal. If John Q Public could distill his own alcohol and beer or grow and process his own tobacco - easily- he would. That's not an option for most so we buy cigarettes and alcohol which is taxed by the gov. Anyone can grow pot. This makes it hard to mass market and, thus, tax.
Jess from Canada.
August 16, 2009, 1:33pm (report abuse)I sometimes think the gov. doesn't want pot to be legal because then people would actually think about things.
Zak N
August 16, 2009, 3:06pm (report abuse)The de-criminalization of marijuana needs to happen. It will improve national security, reduce the law enforcement burden, and generally have good effects. Look the the example of Portugal for an example of a state which has decriminalized possession of drugs and seen mainly positive effects. The people are ready here, it's the government acting as a tyrant which keeps marijuana illegal.
FL Voter
August 16, 2009, 3:07pm (report abuse)The time has come to reach a NEW REALIZATION! Marijuana as an illegal substance should be a thing of the past! We can only change the future by looking to the past, and the past shows that 72 years of prohibition DOES NOT WORK!
Georgia JJ
August 16, 2009, 3:34pm (report abuse)If pot is legalized, its use will actually drop. Look at studies in countries like portugal and Amsterdam. When you tell a human being they can't do something, especially a teenager; whats the first thing they want to do? I thought America was a free country, but we still havn't mastered that.
Anon
August 16, 2009, 3:41pm (report abuse)This is a good start toward decriminalization. But keep in mind that this only eliminates FEDERAL penalties. States can still enact any penalties they want.
steve ky
August 16, 2009, 3:44pm (report abuse)HEMP / Cannabis Marijuana was outlawed directly by the Freemasons in this
country and internationally for the sole purpose of creating synthetic
petrochemical and pharmaceutical alternatives that they could sell through
multinational corporations they control, at highly inflated prices. Back in the
1930's Dupont had a patent on a synthetic chemical compound that breaks
down wood pulp for making paper from trees. You didn't need to cut down
trees to make paper because for thousands of years virtually all known paper
was made from Hemp and it can be produced at 1/4 the cost, 1/5 the pollution
it's 10 times stronger and lasts 10 times longer.
...
August 16, 2009, 4:59pm (report abuse)OOOOHHHHHHHH!!!!! The Freemasons did it. OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Anybody want to buy an aluminum foil hat?
dcdenizen
August 17, 2009, 10:37am (report abuse)The most important thing about this bill is the opportunity for individuals to *make* a ton of money. I'm going to buy stock in Frito-Lay and Taco Bell and Duncan Hines. Just imagine the possibilities of munchie-driven profits when marijuana is legalized!
Bamalam
August 17, 2009, 7:30pm (report abuse)I was hospitalised due to zoloft.
I tried many others.None of the chemicals worked.With the herb,life is more than tolerable.I'm able to eat,sleep and work.Tell me again why it's illegal??
NAN
August 18, 2009, 11:58am (report abuse)We are becoming a country of idiotic laws with selective prosecution…Medical use of the drug (which should be tightly regulated) is one thing but to open the doors for everyone---OMG!
MJB
August 18, 2009, 3:17pm (report abuse)If MJ becomes legal, then it needs to be governed like alcohol and have penalities. Like driving with it in your system. MJ does slow down timing, perception, awareness etc. Get caught or kill someone. the same as alcohol. Go to jail...
matt
August 19, 2009, 10:20pm (report abuse)I'm so sick of people saying it should be legal only for medicinal use, or that it should be taxed. You people are retarded slave-minded sheep.All drugs should be legal, but we need a cultural paradigm shift that recognizes the value of tryptamines and other hallucinogenic(conciousness EXPANDING = GOOD)substances, while recognizing that the ego and boundary creating drugs like cocaine and alcohol are useless garbage designed to keep you stupid and chasing money and [vulgarity] like a stupid half-evolved monkey. I'm so sick of this stupid Obama-loving safe and weak ass society that is scared of people using harmless drugs but isnt scared that the government can force you on terribly powerful horrible unnatural medication in order to keep your job when they decide you have a "mental disorder" (which really just means you don't act how your supposed to). F--- this [vulgarity] this is the one thing that almost makes me think the 3judaic religions might be on to something with this apocalypse theory
matt
August 19, 2009, 10:27pm (report abuse)Steve KY, you are a good man, but remember its not just the Freemasons, you are setting yourself up for weak *ss debunk-age. The OTO is the head of the mysteries now, but it is really the 5% of people in soceity who aren't sheep, but have decided to become manipulators rather than revolutionaries who are the problem. And really they wouldn't be a problem if people didn't let them by forgetting to question all authority, patriarchy, and bullsh*t in society. So really, it is stupidity that is the problem. That's why the orders keep the Gnosis hidden within the initiatory succession, if everyone was enlightened they would have no power. All patriarchy would be utterly dismantled.
matt
August 19, 2009, 10:35pm (report abuse)The guy with "..." as his name can get a hook to the jaw like a little [vulgarity], you don't know f*ck, you probably listen to the idea that a third party vote is a waste. The truth is, you are the waste, [vulgarity]. You know you are on the right track when people start attacking your position with some weak ass insult with no basis in reality. There has never been a tin-foil hat wearer, that sh*t is bullsh*t made up by the media. You people keep supporting taxation, like little b*tches that would get jacked if you lived in the hood, cause you let people step on you. I hope we end up with a revolutionary ruler who dissapears your *ss for being a bootlicking bowing submissive homo. You probably let women get you [vulgarity]. You'll probably work your whole life chasing after a bullsh*t car. I hope the third world slave workers come over the border and slit the throats of people like you. That's what I call divine retribution. I hope jihadists come and burn your f*ckin mansions to the ground.
matt
August 19, 2009, 10:39pm (report abuse)watch i'm gonna get censored haha.. SMOKE WEED EVERY DAY, n I don't even smoke anymore haha. And eat shrooms, they are the source of the evolution of fully concious human beings. If you don't eat psilocibin you are a lower being.
matt
August 19, 2009, 10:44pm (report abuse)Hey bamalam, its illegal because it encourages the opening of the third eye, which is the key to gnosis, which is what is hidden from the masses in order to maintain our massive slave-labor system, by keeping us chasing things that become worthless once the evolutionary cocoon of the ego is shed from the mind allowing the ascension of conciousness into a truly spiritual existance, which has been destroyed by ALL of our institutions, including the so-called "religious" ones. That is why GOOD drugs are illegal, such as Psilocybe Cubensis, DMT, Ayahuasca, anything shamanic, and CANNABIS (not marijuana, marijuana is a type of mexican wild tobacco, you people are still letting that little demon William Randolph Hearst control your perspective with that racist garbage).
420_LEET
August 20, 2009, 12:09pm (report abuse)(1) Schedule I. -
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.
I fully support the bill, but I don't think it goes far enough. Eventually, pot should definitely be removed from the schedule 1 Drug list. It's not addictive, and has many established medical uses. And to say that it is "abused" is only to say that getting "high" is a crime, in which case, why is alcohol, or even tobacco legal?
Rain
August 20, 2009, 9:24pm (report abuse)Walter Cronkite Recognized the Drug War Failure and the Ending Prohibition Solution. He was perceptive and engaged in the well-being of this country and the world. In his final yrs. He publicly recognized -the failed war on drugs.
If you aren't convinced please, watch this youtube video/DVD as it is straight from the front lines!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LayaGk0TMDc
"Anyone concerned about the failure of our $69 billion-a-year War on Drugs should watch this 12-minute program. You will meet front line, ranking police officers who give us a devastating report on why it cannot work. It is a must-see for any journalist or public official dealing with this issue."
Please share this information with other legislators. These laws are destroying our country without any gain.
Regulate Drugs -the tax dollars would be helpful.
Barney's legislation is the baby step we need to move forward on this issue.
Jason M.
August 20, 2009, 10:24pm (report abuse)Marijuana is treated much more seriously than it should be. The benefits of legalizing drugs far outweigh the negatives. No more dangerous imports from South America. A whole new legal industry for the US to profit off of. As long as you don't harm anyone else with it, it's your body.
Rain again
August 20, 2009, 10:26pm (report abuse)H.R. 2943, The Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009 is the IMPORTANT step we need to move forward with Drug Reform in this country!
ryan from canada
August 25, 2009, 4:49pm (report abuse)hey Matt, dont know if your still around but if you are I'm with ya man. you are well informed and these others would do well to learn from what your sayin. peace.
Jon Huntoon
August 25, 2009, 8:43pm (report abuse)Nothing would be better than to see the gang bangers and drug lords go broke. This is a good step forward.
Michael Dee
August 26, 2009, 7:24pm (report abuse)HR 2943 Can we grow our own marijuana? Or do we still get it from organized crime?
And why not buy it from someone locally?
At least the fine is reduced from $10,000 to a hundred dollars.
Cait
August 27, 2009, 6:42pm (report abuse)When I was 17 I got busted with only a gram of weed and a bowl and was taken to jail. I don't recall ever disturbing the peace or putting myself/others in danger. It angers me that the government and the police can charge hundreds of thousands of otherwise law-abiding citizens for this "crime", suck their wallets dry and leave it on their personal record, lessening their chances of achieving things in life such as getting a job or a scholarship. The government knows that marijuana is the most popular illegal drug, so it's the one they preach the most against, that is when they're not popping prescription painkillers or getting pulled over for drunk driving, which they get away with because to be the law is to be above the law. Why not concentrate on drugs that actually ruin lives without the help of the legal system? When will America wake up and smell the cannabis?
Wisconsin
August 27, 2009, 9:58pm (report abuse)OK 95% or more of the comments are for marijuana legalization...
It is time for the American person to stand up against the "machines" that is Big Pharma, Policing Politicians (DEA), and Washington D.C.!
Hugo
August 28, 2009, 11:03pm (report abuse)If you read the bill carefully this does not legalize marijuana. This is a decriminalization bill. A step in the right direction but still leaves the entire enterprise of buying cannibus in a grey area. Not only will this not motivate cannibus growers to go legit but will encourage them to be more brazen and hostile to control the more readily available clientele.
All restrictions need to be lifted from the growing and selling of marijuana. This will reduce criminal activities; affect how law enforcement will be used to enforce public safety.
I have been saying this for years; legalization has nothing to do with encouraging people to get high. This is a economic/social/national security issue that needs to be address.
I find it funny how a president who swore to terminate government programs that are not working laughed dismissively when asked by his own base when cannibus will be legalized.
Yeah; change we can believe in.
More like; meet the new boss; same as the old boss.
Red Head and *Certified* Logician and Intellectual
September 5, 2009, 10:09pm (report abuse)Wisconsin, you're absolutely right. I went through and read all these comments, and have only come across maybe three stating they do not wish the bill to be passed. It's sad most of these people don't realize we've never had a population this huge in our country have complete legality of the substance. So they have no idea what will happen if this is passed. They should realize the changes that will take place on every thing that is fact on the drug now as opposed to it being legal. GIVE IT A CHANCE AMERICA. How could you know right from wrong if you've never expierienced right?
Patrick Taylor
September 9, 2009, 2:56am (report abuse)RE:In reply to this post:
Rich Croucher
June 27, 2009, 6:35pm
"If you really look at it the benefits just from legalizing hemp alone are amazing. It can be used to make gasoline, clothes, fiber broad stronger than wood, even plastics that are biodegradable unlike a lot of the chemically produced goods today."
It's interesting that you brought this point up. It was suspected that William Randolph Hearst either owned holdings in DuPont or was doing a favor for a friend, but when Popular Science Magazine came out saying Hemp was the NEW BILLION dollar crop in 1937, he started his crusade. DuPont was making no money since there was no war going on at the time and they weren't selling much gunpowder. Strangely, they started inventing synthetic fibers not long after that (1938).
Joshua
September 9, 2009, 2:16pm (report abuse)How can we uphold a unjust federal tax law that was aimed at Mexican imagrants we passed a law for pure racial and finacial benefit of pollititian's and early corprate amer but yet we brag about abolishing slavery for crying out loud I am permately disabled cause of a drunk driver but it's ok cause it's legal right ??
James
September 22, 2009, 1:52pm (report abuse)We need to pass this bill. This is simply the start of something that needs done BADLY. Please vote to end cannabis prohibition!
Marco
September 23, 2009, 6:02pm (report abuse)So sad that most politicians are ignorant (even with a Democratic majority - stupid liberals). RON PAUL 2012!!!!
This will once again (cannabis is so stigmatized) die in committee!
Jared
September 30, 2009, 5:31pm (report abuse)I Think this bill should be passed because me and a lot of others like me have been arrested for small amounts of marijuana and have had to pay a lot of money or had to spend time in jail just for possession. I think if this bill is passed it will not cause an outrage or anything to that extent, but it will allow the people who actually smoke to come out of hiding people. It's not like you haven't even seen it before. A lot of people do it and it's ridiculous that they have such strict laws about marijuana. Congress needs to pass this bill or rethink their stand on marijuana.
Keaton
October 6, 2009, 9:01pm (report abuse)It all comes down to if you don't like marijuana then don't smoke it. If you do like it then smoke it and don't be stupid when you do.
Take a toke
October 29, 2009, 3:43pm (report abuse)It will never pass cigarette and alcohol producers dont want it to infringe on them.
Me
November 6, 2009, 3:37pm (report abuse)Regulate it and tax the crap out of it! Marijuana is just as dangerous as alcohol in a person’s stream while driving, and has been proven; it already falls under DUI and DWI. Cut down on overcrowding in the jail system, and hopefully cut down on crimes (sometimes violent) in our neighborhoods. Might help with the economy and help create jobs!
Chloe from Washington
November 6, 2009, 7:09pm (report abuse)its ridiculous that weed is illegal.
way more deaths have been caused by alcohol and its an herb. the only bad thing about it is that it makes you sleepy.
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