Texas medical marijuana bill needs one vote to pass first hurdle

Published: April 22, 2005

On April 5, the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee heard H.B. 658, a bill that would give medical marijuana patients an affirmative defense to prosecution. The hearing went very well. No one present testified against the bill, yet it was left pending in the committee. As of earlier this week, the bill's author, Rep. Elliot Naishtat (D-Austin), has been told by Reps. Escobar (D-Kingsville), Hodge (D-Dallas), Keel (R-Austin), and Moreno (D-El Paso) that they are ready to vote for H.B. 658. This means we need only one more vote to pass this vital piece of legislation out of the committee.

Please take a moment to call the undecided members of the committee to politely urge them to support H.B. 658.

Click here for talking points on H.B. 658.

Rep. Debbie Riddle (R-Houston)

Capitol Phone: 512-463-0572

District Phone: 281-537-5252

Rep. Aaron Pena (D-Edinburg)

Capitol Phone: 512-463-0426

District Phone: 956-383-7444

Rep. Mary Denny (R-Flower Mound)

Capitol Phone: 512-463-0688

District Phone: 972-724-8477

Rep. Richard Raymond (D-Laredo)

Capitol Phone: 512-463-0558

District Phone: 956-753-7722

Rep. Elvira Reyna (R-Mesquite)

Capitol Phone: 512-463-0464

District Phone: 972-279-7030

Once you've made those calls, please follow up with an e-mail to the same members, urging them to support H.B. 658.

With only one swing vote needed, your e-mails and phone calls could shift the balance over the next few days. Please forward this e-mail on to friends around Texas. Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project.