Rep. Barney Frank on Marijuana reform: "I believe in personal freedom"

Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) a proponent of marijuana reform hopes 2012 is the year the popular drug is legalized.

Motivated by personal freedom and liberty, Frank wants the government to reconsider how it deals with pot.

"Particularly marijuana, I think is a great hypocrisy." Frank continued, "I think frankly it contributes to a good deal of the sense of unfairness you have among younger people who are told they shouldn’t do this because it’s got all these negative effects, but then older people are engaging in all kinds of things that have a greater impact on people."

Frank believes the state could reduce its expenditures by not jailing and prosecuting people who use marijuana. Instead he proposes taxing the drug as a contribution to revenues.

But the ultimate goal for Frank is to create a free society.

"If there’s an activity that I could engage in without hurting anyone else, as an adult, but other people if they engage in it may abuse it, please don’t prevent me from doing it," explained Frank.

"Whether you want to do these things or not oughta be your own choice."

OutFront tonight: Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank.