Barney Frank, Ron Paul Team Up on Marijuana Bill
June 22, 2011, 5:54 PM ET
blogs.wsj.com
By Ryan Tracy
Reps. Barney Frank (D., Mass.) and Ron Paul (R., Texas) don’t always see eye to eye on policy matters, but the Massachusetts liberal and Texas libertarian are teaming up to introduce a bill that would end the federal prohibition on marijuana, leaving it up to each state to set marijuana policy.
The bill, designed to limit the federal government’s role in enforcing marijuana laws, would allow states to legalize, regulate, and tax the drug, according to a press release from advocacy groups. The release was confirmed by Rep. Frank’s office, where a spokesman for the Massachusetts liberal emphasized that the measure “is not a legalization bill.”
Messrs Frank and Paul, along with other lawmakers, plan to unveil the bill on Thursday, and a spokesman for Mr. Frank emphasized that it “is not a legalization bill.”
According to the release, “The legislation would limit the federal government’s role in marijuana enforcement to cross-border or inter-state smuggling, allowing people to legally grow, use or sell marijuana in states where it is legal.”
More than a dozen states have laws that allow the sale of marijuana for medical use, but the practice is not legal under federal law, and federal authorities have raided marijuana dispensaries.
The confusion has made some states wary. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie recently said he would not implement the state’s medical marijuana law without assurances from federal prosecutors.
Attorney General Eric Holder said earlier this month he would clarify the Justice Department’s policy on the matter. |
