March 24, 2008 Barney Frank’s marijuana bill Play video

(NECN) - The discussion happened Friday night, when Frank was a guest on HBO's "Real Time" with Bill Maher:

“I'm going to file a bill as soon as we go back to remove all federal penalties for the personal use of possession of small amounts of marijuana”

Frank could not specify what he meant by a small amount. Decades ago he filed a similar bill -- unsuccessfully -- at the state level. This is his first try in Washington

“I now think that it's time for the politics in this one to catch up to the public.”

The topic is one of state and nation-wide discussion. Jeffrey Miron lectures in economics at Harvard University. He thinks that franks proposal will spark an important discussion, but will die -- almost immediately -- on the house floor:

Jeffrey Miron: “There's not a political will right now for anything like this...even this baby step i don't think there's will for. “

Miron has long spoken to the economic impact of decriminalization and believes the step would save resources -- both logistical and financial:

Reduced arrests, somewhat fewer prosecutions and imprisonments...mainly reduced arrests.

In a call from Washington, Frank tells NECN that finances are a consideration but do not motivate his bill: “you should not have laws on the books, laws that we really don't want to enforce. I think that undercuts law enforcement I think it puts law enforcement personnel in a bad situation.”

Calls

to various law enforcement groups -- and others who oppose decriminalization -- were not returned at the time of this report.

Frank's comments come as several New England states, including Massachusetts and New Hampshire consider petitions on decriminalization. In fact Massachusetts just this past week held a hearing on house bill 44-68 on that very matter.

That bill would lower the penalties for personal possession of an ounce or less of marijuana from criminal to civil -- punishable by fines and forfeiture. The Massachusetts district attorney's association is among many groups against any relaxation in state marijuana laws.

NECN’s Lauren Collins has more.