The first federal marijuana decriminalization bill in 25 years was just
introduced in Congress. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)
introduced H.R. 5843, the “Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act
of 2008,” which would decriminalize possession of marijuana for personal use.
Please urge your representative to support this important legislation:
http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=vJ9-S109ttXG-ZTKqqa_iQ..

A deluge of messages from constituents will help members of Congress feel more
confident in declaring their support for the bill. We don’t expect the bill to
become law just yet, but it will help us find out which members of Congress
support marijuana decriminalization and which do not.  The more representatives
who co-sponsor it, the more support we can show for marijuana law reform.

Take action now: http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=_UiaUOCkuHEkPRQMlZ9gkQ..

Last year alone the police made almost 830,000 arrests for marijuana law
offenses in the United States. 89 percent of those arrests were for posssession
for personal use. Those arrested were seperated from their families, branded
criminals, and in many cases fired from their jobs and denied school loans and
other public assistance. The arrests cost taxpayers billions of dollars and
consumed an estimated 4.5 million law enforcment hours (that’s the equivalent of
taking 112,500 law enforcement officers off the streets).

H.R. 5843 would make it legal under federal law for adults to possess up to 100
grams (3.5 ounces) of marijuana for personal use. It would also allow
not-for-profit transfers of up to one ounce of marijuana between consenting
adults. Please urge your member of Congress to support this bill:
http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=LSLxNBCYxuYieWKHfBdkpw..

Our executive director, Ethan Nadelmann, made a powerful case for ending
marijuana prohibition in a 2004 cover story in National Review:
http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=zIQV5zmtjDxe0OOn6fQKmA..

Sincerely,

Bill Piper
Director of National Affairs
Drug Policy Alliance