For the first time, Gov. Abbott signals support for reducing penalties for low-level marijuana possession.

During the first televised debate between himself and challenger Lupe Valdez, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signaled his support of reducing penalties for low-level marijuana possession. Specifically, the governor said, “I would be open to talking to the legislature about reducing the penalty for [marijuana] possession of 2 ounces or less from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor.”

This is great news! Advocates from across the state have been working hard to encourage Gov. Abbott and state legislators to consider an alternative to Texas’ outdated and unreasonable penalties for marijuana. Please send Governor Abbott a quick thank you note so he knows you appreciate him taking this issue seriously.

The governor’s shift in opinion comes just months after the Republican Party of Texas included in their platform support for a “change in the law to make it a civil, and not a criminal, offense for legal adults only to possess one ounce or less of marijuana for personal use, punishable by a fine of up to $100, but without jail time.”

Texas arrests more than 60,000 people annually for marijuana possession. In recent years, lawmakers have put forward various proposals to reduce penalties. Chairman Joseph Moody’s HB 81 got the most traction during the 2017 legislative session. It was scheduled for a vote by the Texas House of Representatives, but failed to meet the  deadline. If passed, the measure would have made possession of one ounce or less a civil, not a criminal penalty. Law enforcement would issue a citation and fine, but the offender would avoid a permanent criminal record, which carries lasting collateral consequences such as diminished access to education, employment, and housing.

Valuable public safety resources are being wasted when law enforcement is tasked with arresting people for marijuana possession. Most Texans agree that it is time for the legislature to  enact a more sensible approach!

Both Gov. Abbott and Sheriff Valdez’s full comments on marijuana law reform can be found here.

Thank you for your support and advocacy. Change is coming to Texas and it’s thanks to people like you!

On August 11, hundreds of Texans gathered in Austin for the first-ever Texas Marijuana Policy Conference.

Conference speakers discussed state and federal marijuana policy from personal and professional perspectives. We heard from state and federal lawmakers, professional athletes, policy experts, and advocates, including veterans, patients, and caregivers. Here’s the full list of speakers from the event.

We are less than three months away from the legislative pre-filing period, which is when we expect to see marijuana related bills introduced. We’re excited about our opportunities for reform during the coming legislative session. Thank you for your support!

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All funds will be dedicated to advocacy efforts at the Texas Capitol.

Here are some of the highlights:

Award Presentations

 If you weren’t there this year, you really missed out.

Event Photos: Here’s link to our online photo album. More photos will be added throughout the week. Feel free to tag yourself and friends if you were there!

Resource Materials: Click here to find the downloadable PDF handouts we provided on our resource table at the conference. Please feel free to share these materials with your friends and family members who want get involved with our efforts to change laws in Texas.

Thank you for your support of marijuana law reform and our effort to advance the cause!

There are only 25 tickets left for the Texas Marijuana Policy Conference. Register now if you want to attend this first-of-its-kind event!

This weekend’s conference will feature state and federal lawmakers, professional athletes, academics, scientists, medical professionals, policy experts, law enforcement officials, and advocates, including veterans, patients, and caregivers. Here’s our full conference agenda.

Throughout the conference, we’ll hear from speakers about various issues relating to marijuana policy. We’ll discuss cannabis as an alternative to opiates for pain and making the Compassionate Use Program more inclusive for patients with debilitating medical conditions. Speakers will also dive into the nuances of marijuana criminalization, including the patchwork policies we see throughout our state as local law enforcement moves away from arresting and prosecuting people for marijuana possession.

Federal policies are rapidly changing, but experts will help us better understand where Congress stands now and how we can affect real change nationally. In addition to an expert panel, we’ll hear from Congressman Dana Rohrabacher who has been leading bipartisan efforts to protect states that have decided to regulate cannabis, rather than prohibit it outright.

Join us this weekend in Austin! Click here to register.

Texas is now surrounded by states that no longer prohibit access to cannabis for patients with their doctor’s recommendation.

By a double digit margin, Oklahoma voters approved a proposal to “legalizes the licensed use, sale, and growth of marijuana in Oklahoma for medicinal purposes.”

Oklahoma is arguably one of the most conservative states in the US and voters have sent a very clear message: It’s time for a change! This move by our northern neighbors adds to the momentum of advocates who want to see Texas’ unreasonably restrictive Compassionate Use Program made more inclusive. 

Here’s the full language of the Oklahoma proposal:

BALLOT TITLE FOR STATE QUESTION NO. 788

This measure amends the Oklahoma State Statutes. A yes vote legalizes the licensed use, sale, and growth of marijuana in Oklahoma for medicinal purposes. A license is required for use and possession of marijuana for medicinal purposes and must be approved by an Oklahoma Board Certified Physician. The State Department of Health will issue medical marijuana licenses if the applicant is eighteen years or older and an Oklahoma resident. A special exception will be granted to an applicant under the age of eighteen, however these applications must be signed by two physicians and a parent or legal guardian.

The Department will also issue seller, grower, packaging, transportation, research and caregiver licenses. Individual and retail businesses must meet minimal requirements to be licensed to sell marijuana to licensees. The punishment for unlicensed possession of permitted amounts of marijuana for individuals who can state a medical condition is a fine not exceeding four hundred dollars. Fees and zoning restrictions are established. A seven percent state tax is imposed on medical marijuana sales.

 

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL – YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO

 

A “YES” vote is a vote in favor of this measure. A “NO” vote is a vote against this measure.

Congratulations, Oklahoma!

We’ve known for some time that a majority of Texans support reforming our state’s outdated and unreasonably harsh marijuana laws. Now for the first time, all political parties on the ballot in Texas have officially declared their support for reform!

In 2015, our legislature passed the Compassionate Use Act (SB 339), a bill that allows limited access to cannabis for those with a very rare form of epilepsy.

Last year, Texas State Rep. Eddie Lucio III authored and championed a bill (HB 2107) that would have made medical cannabis available to those with a variety debilitating health conditions. While the proposal was ultimately unsuccessful, it did earn bipartisan support from more than half of the Texas House of Representatives, including three of the four members who are physicians by trade.

Stephen Sealey of ValleyCentral.com reports that Rep. Lucio III continues his work on this issue:

State Rep. Eddie Lucio III pushes for legalized medical cannabis

Read full story here: http://valleycentral.com/news/local/lois-riess-released-to-the-state-of-florida

Today in El Paso, the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee is discussing the following interim charge, as assigned by the Speaker of the House:

Interim Charge 3: Study current practices for the enforcement of criminal laws against low-level possession of marijuana. Examine the use of alternative punishments and improvements to criminal enforcement mechanisms and community supervision.

The committee is hearing invited testimony from local officials and advocates.

WATCH LIVE HERE: http://www.citytvep.com/watch

According to a poll released today by Quinnipiac University, by a 2-1 margin, Texas voters support allowing adults to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use.

This new poll reiterates what we have known for some time — Texans are ready for reform!

With bi-partisan support, Chairman Joseph Moody has taken a leadership role on this subject, introducing a “civil penalties” bill during the last two legislative sessions. The proposal would institute a civil citation to replace the arrest, jail time, and criminal record currently associated with small amounts of marijuana.

Last year, Chairman Moody’s bill passed out of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and was scheduled for a vote by the Texas House of Representatives, but was beat by the clock. Our Texas Legislature will reconvene in January, offering advocates another chance to pass meaningful reform in the Lone Star State.

Sign up for email updates and action alerts: https://www.texasmarijuanapolicy.org/get-involved/