Taking Steps Toward Cannabis Law Reform In Texas

This week I am writing about pending Cannabis law reform in Texas. Particularly about H.B. 184 which has now passed through the Jurisprudence Committee and is to be heard on the house floor for a full debate. In its original form this bill was an attempt to lessen penalties for possession of less than one once Cannabis from a Class B misdemeanor to a ticketable offence.

 However the bill in its entirety did not make it through the committee instead it was changed so that first time offenders under the age of twenty one would be protected from incarceration. While this is somewhat of a disappointment to Texas activists we can all agree that this is a step in the right direction. For the first time the issue of marijuana law reform will has the chance to be heard by all of Texas’s State Representatives on the House floor.

The only thing at the moment standing in front of this is the Calendars Committee which handles the scheduling of the hearings and with thousands of bills on the waiting list it is still a huge possibility that there will not be time in this session to have a hearing on this bill. If the bill is not heard by the end of this session it would then have to start the process all over again two years from now during the next session.

Every day the movement to end the war on drugs grows and it will continue to do so. I encourage you all to educate yourselves on this matter and show the leaders of this great state that we the people are who they are meant to serve. That just because they may hold office today does not mean that we cannot remove them tomorrow we are not going away and we will be heard. Write your representative today, You and find out who they are here http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/. Also join us on May 5, 2013 for the Texas Marijuana March when we ill march from Austin city hall to the capitol. We will be meeting up at city hall around 3:00 pm and leaving around 3:30pm. hope to see yall there.

           Who Are The Real Dependents

             This post is in response to the author of Sarcastic politics  April 3, 2013 blog post titled Dependent.  I agree with you that the people of this country have indeed "  become more economically dependent upon the government. " All though I would disagree with you about them trying to satisfying wants instead of needs. Food for to feed ones family and a doctor to mend their wounds are not wants they are basic needs.
             In country were the top 1% of people control 40% of the nations wealth while the bottom 80% of people only have 7% of the nations wealth I would have to say that you are wrong about who is standing around with their hands out. How could you expect taxes to go down when corporations like exon mobile pay in close to nothing into the tax system and every year receive rebates from the same system of amounts exceeding 100 million dollars? How can you expect a government function properly when we allow companies to buy politicians? The fact of the matter is you simply can not.  
            You are also correct about another thing in your post every year more and more people are having to receive assistance from our government which is a bad thing. Until we correct the corporate monopolies that are holding our government and economic system hostage, we will never see America shine as it once did as the greatest country on earth, and the American Dream will continue to realized less and less often.

 Equality in Texas

            Civil liberties are defined as individual legal and constitutional protections against the government.  Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, we the people have shed copious amounts of blood, sweat, and tears in pursuit of these liberties. Originally the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution only protected the people from the national government and did nothing to protect them from state governments until 1868 when the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified. It has now been just shy of two and a half centuries since the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Americans are still locked in heated battles over civil liberty issues. Bringing up controversial issues is a sure way to quickly bring peoples blood to a boil; just as they did at the birth of our great nation and here in Texas we are no different. One of our biggest debates at this moment is equal rights as our nation debates the constitutionality of DOMA a law that restricts marriages to couples with partners of the opposite sex and weather or not this is a states rights issue, some Texas politicians, especially our governor Rick Perry are making their opinions heard.

The purpose fourteenth amendment  is to ensure equal protection under the law to all Americans regardless of race, gender, religious affiliation or sexual orientation. The biggest arguments in the matter of marriage equality come from religious institution of Christianity, who are making the point that in the bible marriage is between one man and one woman. The statements made by the Governor at the faith and family rally on March 26, 2013 on this matter make it clear that here the battle for equality is far from over. 

 As long as we allow our politicians to make political decisions based on their religious beliefs there can be no equality. While politicians have a right to their own personal opinions and beliefs when it comes time to post their votes their gods and religious doctrines should be left in the lobby.  Some may still believe that faith is what made this country strong what truly made us strong is diversity and it will continue to make this country stronger when we are all excepted and protected by its laws.  

 

 

 

 

 

       

 Helping Pending Cannabis Law Reform in Texas

 

          This week in light of the recent events of H.B.594 receiving a hearing in, and H.B184 which was already heard in the Criminal Jurisprudence committee of the Texas legislature, I have chosen to use a blog article from The Weed Blog titled What You Can Do Right Now To Support Marijuana Policy Reform In Texas. This article aims at educating citizens about their options to help support the movement to decriminalize and one day legalize the use of cannabis and cannabis products for responsible adults in the state of Texas.  In this article the author brings up several key points.

         The first point that is brought up is to contact your representatives. Remember These men and women see thousands of bills each session there is simply not time for them to cover them all; the fact is that they may simply not even know the bill exists. Not only does this action bring to their attention the feelings of the people they are meant to serve but it will give you piece of mind as well knowing that your voice has been heard. If you don't know who your Rep is look them up at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/
          The next and most important point the author makes is to Become familiar with, write down, and commit to memory the key provisions of the bills. While coming up with the courage to commit to contacting your representatives is great, knowing what you are talking about will give you greater confidence when making the call. Not to mention educating yourself on the subject of what you will be bringing to his or her attention could help them to make their decision.
          Another valid point that is mentioned is for supporters to download and read the Texas Legislatures Packet. which can be done by clicking this link:Texas Legislature Education Packet. It is a great way to place to start educating your self on this issue. It covers topics such as our current Cannabis laws, information on cannabis arrests in our state, and the benefits of decriminalization and legalization.
          In its attempt to inform citizens I would say that this article does a pretty good job overall. However it does forget to mention a few other easy ways to help keep the bowl passing, such as joining  special interest groups like Texas Norml and Americans For Safe Access. Even something as simple as liking a pro cannabis Facebook page can help give you the knowledge to help continue this fight. Remember that only by informing ourselves and others can we start to dismantle the myths that are behind the current drug policies of this state and our nation, so that we can one day end the war on drugs.



 

     Should Texans Have the Right to Know Where Our Tax Dollars Go?

      For my second post I have chosen an article From the Austin American Statesman titled Open Books on Legislative Pensions; which discusses the Anti disclosure laws that have been passed over the last decade here in Texas. In a recent attempt to secure information on the cumulative total of dollar amounts for the pensions collected by Texas's 103 former law makers, an advocate group known as Texans for Public Justice were denied this information  by Travis County State District Judge Lora Livingston.

     Where I can understand why an individual should be allowed to keep the amount they are collecting form public record. I would have agree with the author on the fact that how Texans tax dollars are being used should be made public, afterall this group is not asking about individual benifits recived but the total of all 103 pesions.

      By keeping this information from Texans to me automaticaly raises red flags about what politicans are doing with our tax dollars. At a time when expeditures being cut is causing the underfunding of public schools and other programs to be the normal way of life, there should be no doubt about where Texan's tax dollars are going. After all why should funding for the future generations be cut while lobbyists wine and dine politicians at the expence of tax payers.

     

     

    

   

        

              

 

                     "You Can Have My Gun When You Pry It From My Cold Dead Fingers"

   For my first post I would like to introduce an article I found on the KVUE website at the link listed below. http://www.kvue.com/home/Texas-lawmaker-challenges-unconstitutional-federal-gun-regulations-189282811.html

       As we all know. In the aftermath of the tragic events that took place this January at Sandy Hook Elementary, gun control has become one of the most heated topics in national as well as state level political debate. In light of President Obama's recent "recommendations “on how to curb gun violence; Texas lawmakers and citizens are in an uproar. While Law abiding citizens of this great state are in a rush to stockpile weapons, ammunition and other possibly banned items, Texas State Rep. John Otto and 44 other house Republicans have taken a different approach by filing HB. 553. 

       If enacted into law HB553 would declare bans on assault weapons, high capacity magazines, ammunition and other weapons attachments unconstitutional. Furthermore "The Second Amendment Preservation Act" would make it illegal in the state of Texas for any law enforcement Local or Federal to enforce such bans. Punishment for such activities would include a max 180 days in jail and a $5,000 fine for local officers and 1 year jail time along with a staggering $10,000 fine for Federal agents. As the debate continues at the national level Texas and its lawmakers have made it quite clear that infringements upon our second amendment rights will not be tolerated and that violators will be dealt with accordingly.