Title:
Texas Democratic Party backs marijuana decriminalization
Message:
Ask your state representative and state senator to support decriminalization.
Yes, you read that right. Earlier this month, the Texas Democratic Party held its annual convention in Houston, where a contingent of delegates from Victoria County presented a resolution in support of removing criminal penalties for the possession of small amounts of marijuana. According to the Victoria Advocate, the resolution passed with “only a handful of opposition.”
In approving the measure, Texas Democrats joined a growing movement. Last week, the Associated Press ran a story under the headline “Efforts To Relax Pot Laws Gaining Momentum In US,” highlighting unprecedented support in public opinion polls, the passage of decriminalization legislation in Rhode Island, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s call for similar legislation there. Since then, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel has also given his backing to decriminalization.
So where do we go from here? To Austin! Please stop what you’re doing and ask your state representative and state senator to heed the party’s call and introduce decriminalization legislation in Austin (note: since we’re building on a Democratic Party resolution, the links will only work if your representative or senator is a Democrat). We’ll let you know if/when a bill is introduced. In the mean time, thanks for all you do!
