Let's Legalize Drug Use: Argentine Prez

In US, Rep. Barney Frank leads lawmakers on marijuana crusade
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 3, 2008 6:21 PM CDT
Let's Legalize Drug Use: Argentine Prez
A protester holds a sign protesting Drug Enforcement Agency raids on medical marijuana clinics in Los Angeles Tuesday, May 27, 2008.    (Associated Press)

Argentina's president is seeking to legalize drug use and a crack down on dealing and trafficking, CNN reports. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's plan follows similar moves by European and Latin American nations, where decriminalization has not increased drug use, one expert said. Mexico proposed such a law several years ago, but backed down when Washington reacted harshly.

Meanwhile, a group of US lawmakers are pushing Washington to legalize some marijuana use. Rep. Barney Frank's bill would allow Americans to carry up to 100 grams of cannabis. "The vast amount of human activity ought to be none of the government's business," Frank said. "I don't think it is the government's business to tell you how to spend your leisure time."
(More marijuana legalization stories.)

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