Marijuana policy reform alive in Texas this session

Published: February 3, 2005

On January 28, Reps. Terry Keel (R-Austin) and Elliot Naishtat (D-Austin) took a compassionate stand and introduced H.B. 658, which would provide an affirmative defense for medical marijuana patients in Texas. If passed, the bipartisan-supported H.B. 658 would allow patients to prove to a jury that their use was medically necessary and doctor recommended—which they are currently prohibited from doing—and thereby escape punishment for using their medicine.

Let your legislators know that you—like 75% of Texas residents, according to a 2004 Scripps Research poll—support protecting medical marijuana patients from criminal penalties:

http://mpp.org/TX/action.html

If you've never used our system to send letters to your legislators, you'll be surprised at how quick and easy it is. Further, if you are a medical marijuana patient, or if you know a patient, doctor, or nurse who would like to help with the cause, please e-mail mmckey@mpp.org today.

In support of H.B. 658, MPP-grant recipient Texans for Medical Marijuana (TMM)—a prime mover behind this legislation—is sponsoring a "Lobby Day" on Thursday, February 17, in Austin. Join TMM and let your legislators see the support for medical marijuana in Texas. Please click here for event details.

If you have not confirmed your attendance, please e-mail Karen or call 512-589-1086 to let TMM know that you are coming.

In another step forward for marijuana policy reform, Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) introduced H.B. 254, which would spare those possessing small amounts of marijuana from having to serve jail time. H.B. 254 would make possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a Class C misdemeanor—the equivalent of a traffic ticket. Under current law, possession of less than two ounces of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail.

Commenting on H.B. 254, Rep. Dutton stated that Texas has "been tough on crime for the last decade or so, and now it's time to be a little bit smart on crime."

http://mpp.org/TX/action.html

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this information on to family and friends so that even more voices can be heard.