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HR 5842 NORML is pleased to announce that Representative Ron Paul has been joined by Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), and Sam Farr (D-CA) in introducing H.R. 5842, the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act”, which seeks to enact legal protections for authorized medical marijuana patients, in the House of Representatives. Now is the time to contact your House member and urge him or her to support this important legislation.
H.R. 5842 will help to ensure that medical marijuana patients in those states where medical cannabis legislation has been approved will no longer have to fear arrest or prosecution from federal law enforcement agencies. However, this proposal will only receive serious consideration if your elected officials hear an unmistakable message of support from their constituents.
Currently, twelve states -- Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington -- have enacted laws protecting medical marijuana patients from state prosecution. It’s time that we allowed our unique federalist system to work the way it was intended, and permit these states’ citizens and their representatives to enact laws permitting the medical use of cannabis, free from federal interference.
HR 5843 NORML is pleased to report that H.R. 5843, an "Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults," has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Barney Frank and Ron Paul.
This measure, if passed, would strip the federal government of its authority to arrest responsible adult cannabis consumers. NORML founder and Legal Director Keith Stroup worked extensively with Frank’s staff to write this important legislation, which represents the first cannabis decriminalization measure introduced in Congress in 24 years.
Under current federal law, the penalty for cannabis possession is up to one year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.
Please call 202 224 3121 and urge your Congressional Representative to cosponsor and vote YES on HR 5842 and HR 5843 |
