Reps. Barney Frank and Ron Paul do not agree on much when it comes to banking, but when it comes to pot they're in lockstep. The two House Financial Services Committee members from opposite ends of the ideological spectrum introduced a bill last week that would remove marijuana from the list of controlled substances and give the states power over the issue, according to the Associated Press.
The news organization noted that the bill would also let individuals grow and sell marijuana in states that make it legal.
"Criminally prosecuting adults for making the choice to smoke marijuana is a waste of law enforcement resources and an intrusion on personal freedom," Frank told the AP. "I do not advocate urging people to smoke marijuana. Neither do I urge them to drink alcoholic beverages or smoke tobacco. But in none of these cases do I think prohibition enforced by criminal sanctions is good public policy."
While most legislation faces an uphill battle these days given the hyperpartisan atmosphere, this bill has zero chance of becoming law, at least anytime soon. Why? Because neither party wants to be seen as soft on drugs, and legalizing pot remains controversial.
Indeed, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith told the AP that he would not consider the bill. "Marijuana use and distribution is prohibited under federal law because it has a high potential for abuse and does not have an accepted medical use in the U.S.," Smith said.
