http://politics.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979065488
February 18, 2011 01:25 AM EST
The continuing trend towards mainstream Americans advocating the legalization of marijuana is gaining speed, even in Washington.
Colorado congressman Jared Polis wants to drastically reduce the federal government's funding of the war on drugs. He has introduced amendments to the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011 that, if passed, would virtually eliminate money spent to fight drug crimes.
What do his amendments propose? The first amendment, No. 501, proposes to eradicate funding of the drug czar. The second amendment, No. 427, would prohibit the investigation and criminal prosecution for the possession, manufacture or distribution of marijuana.
Polis believes that the drug czar's office is not only unnecessary, but has proven to be more harmful than helpful in the case of marijuana.
He said, "Levels of drug use do not change because we have a person of power in Washington going around the country saying, 'Drugs are bad.' Moreover, a case can be made that the Drug Czar's office has done a disservice to our youth by emphasizing the harms associated with marijuana at the expense of educating them about the relative harms of all drugs."
He also said that support for legalizing marijuana and ending the war on drugs is gaining support in Congress. Most members, however, are too fearful to assert their opinions.
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