Title:
TX: Medical marijuana affirmative defense bill introduced
Message:
Representative
Elliot Naishtat (D-Austin) has introduced a bill that would allow medical
marijuana patients to present evidence of their conditions at trial if arrested
for possession of marijuana. If patients can show they were using medical
marijuana on the advice of a physician, they would be acquitted. The bill, HB
1491, has been assigned to the House Public Health Committee where it has
yet to be scheduled for a hearing. That’s where you come in – please call the committee chair,
Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), and ask her to give the bill a fair hearing.
Please
also send an e-mail to your representative supporting this modest and
compassionate proposal.
An
affirmative defense represents a good first step for Texas, a state where many
would be surprised to see medical marijuana advocates seeing progress. But
before any progress can be made, we must at least be given the opportunity to
make the case at a public hearing. I know you’re busy, so we’ll give you a
sample script to make it easy. It’ll only take two minutes to call Rep. Kolkhorst and ask her
to give the bill a hearing in committee.
Thanks
so much, I’ll keep you posted.
