REP. FRANKS TO FILE BILL TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

BOSTON -- Representative Barney Frank says he's going to file a bill
when Congress is back in session to legalize "small amounts" of marijuana.

Frank made the announcement late Friday on the HBO show "Real Time,"
hosted by Bill Maher.

He told Maher his bill would remove all federal penalties for the
possession or use of small amounts of marijuana, but he didn't define
"small amounts."

Frank said it's time for politicians to catch up with the public. He
said locking people up for smoking marijuana is "pretty silly."

Frank said he'd filed a similar bill in the Massachusetts state
legislature in the 1970s. He said he'd call the federal legislation
the "Make Room for Serious Criminals" bill.