Thank you for contacting me about personal use of marijuana. It is good to hear from you.

On April 17, 2008, Representative Barney Frank introduced H.R. 5843, the Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults. This bill removes federal penalties on adult possession of marijuana for personal use or for not-for-profit transfer of marijuana between adults for personal use. This bill further clarifies that 100 grams or less of marijuana falls under the definition of personal usage. H.R. 5843 has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

On this issue we will have to agree to disagree. I believe that the federal government must take a strong stand in opposition to all illegal drugs, including marijuana. The main ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which is a mind-altering chemical. A typical marijuana joint is estimated to weigh about 0.4 grams. If a standard joint is 0.4 grams of average-quality 6% marijuana buds, an ounce of "standard pot" equals more than 60 joints. An ounce of more potent 12% sinsemilla is 120 joints. Thus an ounce is from 60 to 120 joints.

H.R. 5843 would allow anyone 18 or older to be in possession of up to 210 to 420 joints at any given time including a senior in high school or a first year college student!  The amount of joints this bill permits raises questions of trafficking- not personal use. Thus, I will oppose H.R. 5843 if it comes up for a vote on the House floor.

Thank you again for contacting me about this issue. I regret that we disagree on this particular issue but if you have any other concerns, please feel free to contact me in the future.