Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Hundreds of marijuana advocates are expected to descend on Austin for Citizen Lobby Day at the state Capitol - pushing for support from legislators to decriminalize the drug.
"There really shouldn't be a stigma associated with a small amount of experimentation," said Zoe Russell, assistant executive director of Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition, also known as RAMP.
RAMP is part of a coalition that includes various local, state and national marijuana reform groups that are active in the Lone Star State. The group stands behind House Bill 507, filed by Rep. Joe Moody, a democrat from El Paso. The bill would decrease the penalty for possession of an ounce or less of cannabis from a Class B misdemeanor to a civil penalty. Essentially, it would eliminate the arrest, the mug shot and the criminal record that comes with a small amount of marijuana possession.
"There's reports that show 42 percent of Republicans have tried marijuana in their time, 47 percent of Democrats. So we don't really feel like it's unaccepted or unknown," Russell said. "You have a number of presidential candidates looking to run for the Republican office that have tried it. What we want to eliminate is the criminal record that follows people around for the rest of their lives; we don't think it's an effective policy at reducing marijuana use."
Texas law currently states that individuals found in possession of less than two ounces of marijuana can be arrested and given a criminal record, and they face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. According to the FBI, there were 72,150 arrests or citations for marijuana-related offenses in Texas in 2012, 97 percent of which were for simple possession.
Some 19 states and the District of Columbia have removed the threat of jail time for possession of small amounts of marijuana, and 23 states and Washington, D.C. have laws legalizing pot in some form. Even though some local groups are pushing for a change, they argue that Texas might not be ready yet to legalize the drug completely.
"We feel that with some time and some experience in other states that Texans can judge for themselves, but I think it's just a matter of time - but I don't know how many years that is," Russell said.
HB507 will receive testimony and debate in the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee before potentially being voted on by committee members. A time has not yet been scheduled for that. Other cannabis related bills filed in the Texas legislature include a CBD-only medical marijuana bill and a hemp research bill.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana advocates host ?Lobby Day? at state Capitol | KXAN.com
Author: Alicia Inns
Contact: Contact Us | KXAN.com
Photo Credit: Austin Chronicle
Website: KXAN.com | Austin News & Weather ? Austin Texas, Round Rock, TX
"There really shouldn't be a stigma associated with a small amount of experimentation," said Zoe Russell, assistant executive director of Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition, also known as RAMP.
RAMP is part of a coalition that includes various local, state and national marijuana reform groups that are active in the Lone Star State. The group stands behind House Bill 507, filed by Rep. Joe Moody, a democrat from El Paso. The bill would decrease the penalty for possession of an ounce or less of cannabis from a Class B misdemeanor to a civil penalty. Essentially, it would eliminate the arrest, the mug shot and the criminal record that comes with a small amount of marijuana possession.
"There's reports that show 42 percent of Republicans have tried marijuana in their time, 47 percent of Democrats. So we don't really feel like it's unaccepted or unknown," Russell said. "You have a number of presidential candidates looking to run for the Republican office that have tried it. What we want to eliminate is the criminal record that follows people around for the rest of their lives; we don't think it's an effective policy at reducing marijuana use."
Texas law currently states that individuals found in possession of less than two ounces of marijuana can be arrested and given a criminal record, and they face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. According to the FBI, there were 72,150 arrests or citations for marijuana-related offenses in Texas in 2012, 97 percent of which were for simple possession.
Some 19 states and the District of Columbia have removed the threat of jail time for possession of small amounts of marijuana, and 23 states and Washington, D.C. have laws legalizing pot in some form. Even though some local groups are pushing for a change, they argue that Texas might not be ready yet to legalize the drug completely.
"We feel that with some time and some experience in other states that Texans can judge for themselves, but I think it's just a matter of time - but I don't know how many years that is," Russell said.
HB507 will receive testimony and debate in the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee before potentially being voted on by committee members. A time has not yet been scheduled for that. Other cannabis related bills filed in the Texas legislature include a CBD-only medical marijuana bill and a hemp research bill.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana advocates host ?Lobby Day? at state Capitol | KXAN.com
Author: Alicia Inns
Contact: Contact Us | KXAN.com
Photo Credit: Austin Chronicle
Website: KXAN.com | Austin News & Weather ? Austin Texas, Round Rock, TX
