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 Lothar121
Marijuanaactivist
Registered: 04/15/03
Posts: 104
Loc: Texas
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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 Texans, help reduce marijuana penalties! Bill Filed!!
#6540261 - 02/07/07 12:44 PM (1 year, 9 months ago) |
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If you are Texan, you probably already know that the Texas legislator is bi-annual. Since this is the case, there is all the more reason to show your support for HB 758, an act to reclassify possession of less than one ounce of marijuana from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor which would remove the threat of incarceration and make possession a fine only offense.
Last session, a bill with similar language passed out of committee unanimously but fell short of a full house vote (due to the calender committee failing to schedule it). The only way we can make this happen is by 1) sending a message to your elected officials and 2) passing this message along to all of your friends in Texas.
I need not go into detail, but decriminalization laws such as this one have not been shown to increase marijuana use and at the same time save the state millions. That's not to mention all the social hardships that this bill would prevent marijuana offenders from suffering in the face of an overly harsh possession law.
Write your officials here:
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=9336871
Bill text and status:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx\?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB758
I will try to post updates as they come in. Please help out and spread the word any way you know how.
Edited by Lothar121 (02/07/07 12:45 PM)
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 rod
Ψ
Registered: 06/29/05
Posts: 3,258
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Re: Texans, help reduce marijuana penalties! Bill Filed!! [Re: Lothar121]
#6540331 - 02/07/07 12:59 PM (1 year, 9 months ago) |
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I must be behind times I had not heard of this.
Thanks for the info.
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Lothar121
Marijuanaactivist
Registered: 04/15/03
Posts: 104
Loc: Texas
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Texans, help reduce marijuana penalties! Bill Filed!! [Re: rod]
#6543874 - 02/08/07 11:32 AM (1 year, 9 months ago) |
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Update: Yesterday, the bill was read for the first time and was referred to the Criminal Jurisprudence committee.
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB758
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Lothar121
Marijuanaactivist
Registered: 04/15/03
Posts: 104
Loc: Texas
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Texans, help reduce marijuana penalties! Bill Filed!! [Re: Lothar121]
#6576078 - 02/16/07 08:34 PM (1 year, 9 months ago) |
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Lothar121
Marijuanaactivist
Registered: 04/15/03
Posts: 104
Loc: Texas
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
|
Re: Texans, help reduce marijuana penalties! Bill Filed!! [Re: Lothar121]
#6597237 - 02/22/07 12:51 PM (1 year, 9 months ago) |
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Marijuana decriminalization in Texas is in committee, H.B. 758, sponsored by Rep. Harold Dutton (D-142). H.B. 758 would reduce the penalty for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. Currently, possession of up to two ounces is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to $2,000 in fines and 180 days in jail. While possession of between one and two ounces would remain a Class B misdemeanor, H.B. 758 proposes that less than one ounce become a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable only by a fine up to $500.
H.B. 758 would be a step in the right direction for Texas. The bill currently sits in the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee. Please take a moment to call the committee members and urge them to hold a hearing on H.B. 758. PLEASE BE POLITE:
Rep. Aaron Pena — committee chair — (512) 463-0426 or (956) 383-7444
Rep. Allen Vaught — vice-chair — (512) 463-0244
Rep. Debbie Riddle — budget & oversight chair — (512) 463-0572 or (281) 537-5252
Rep. Juan M. Escobar — (512) 463-0666 or (361) 592-6120
Rep. Terri Hodge — (512) 463-0586 or (214) 824-1996
Rep. Barbara Mallory Caraway — (512) 463-0664
Rep. Paul Moreno — (512) 463-0638 or (915) 544-0789
Rep. Paula Pierson — (512) 463-0562
Rep. Robert Talton — (512) 463-0460 or (281) 487-8818
http://tinyurl.com/2cawfy
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Lothar121
Marijuanaactivist
Registered: 04/15/03
Posts: 104
Loc: Texas
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Texans, help reduce marijuana penalties! Bill Filed!! [Re: Lothar121]
#6695519 - 03/21/07 01:54 PM (1 year, 8 months ago) |
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The archived version is up on the hearing that took place yesterday that will decide the fate of HB 758. You need Real to watch it.
1)Go to: http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/broadcasts.php?session=80&committeeCode=220
2)Click on the top link dated 3/20/07 3) Fast forward to 6 hours and 6 minutes into the hearing for the marijuana bill.
Texans, some of the testimony may anger you because there are some outright lies and generalizations, but I urge you not to make an angry phone call to committee members and to stay polite on the phone. Remember, this same committee passed this legislation last session, let's hope they have the wisdom to not give into the fear.
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