TX: Medical marijuana affirmative defense bill introduced

Published: March 18, 2011

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.