Marijuana Policy Project

Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts announced a proposal to eliminate the federal penalties for the possession and not-for-profit transfer of small amounts of marijuana for the personal use "by responsible adults."

The bill, number HR 5843, would remove the federal penalties for possession of up to 100 grams and the not-for-profit transfer of one ounce of marijuana. The legislation would also provide for a civil penalty of $100 for the public use of marijuana.

The bill would not affect federal laws prohibiting the sale of marijuana for profit, the importing and exporting of marijuana or the manufacturing of the substance. The law would also not change any state or local laws or regulations regarding the use, sale or manufacturing of marijuana.

Although this proposed legislation does not seem like it would have a large impact on the government's attempt to keep as many drugs out of the country, what it does do is set a dangerous precedent.

While a very small percentage of marijuana users are arrested and tried at the federal level, this legislation opens the door for individual states to change their laws to allow people to use marijuana and other illegal substances.

Some people would argue that smoking marijuana is no different than drinking alcohol or smoking a cigarette. But there is a difference. Marijuana is an illegal substance. While the sale of alcohol and cigarettes is limited to people of certain ages, marijuana is not. Nor should it be. It should remain an illegal substance, except in cases of medical use.

Most people are not in favor of "big government." They do not want the government invading people's personal lives and telling them what they can and cannot do. When the 18th Amendment to the Constitution was passed prohibiting the sale of liquor it exacerbated the problem. More people drank. Some people argue that marijuana use would not be as widespread as it is if it were legal. But we disagree.

Making illicit drugs legal is not beneficial. It would only cause the problem to get worse. More people would get high. What if you could buy marijuana as easily as you could buy a pack of cigarettes? And who gets to determine how old someone should be before they can buy it? And if it starts with marijuana, what's next, supposedly "harder" drugs like heroin and cocaine?

Marijuana should remain an illegal drug, regardless of how much someone has on him or her or why they have it in their possession. The consequences of anything less are too far-reaching and potentially dangerous for everyone.