Civil Penalties (SB 1417) – Senator Ellis (D-Houston) – Senate companion bill to HB 507. This bill did not receive a hearing.
Decriminalization (HB 325) — Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston) – Reduced penalty for 0.35 ounces or less of marijuana, moving the offense from a Class B misdemeanor to Class C. House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Hearing Date: April 8, 2015. Wu joined Rep. Moody as a joint author of HB 507. The bill was left pending in committee
Decriminalization (HB 414) — Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) – Bill Summary: Reduced penalty for one ounce or less of marijuana from a Class B misdemeanor to Class C. House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Hearing Date: April 8, 2015. Dutton joined Rep. Moody as a joint author of HB 507. The bill was left pending in committee.
Repeal Prohibition (HB 2165) – Rep. David Simpson (R – Longview) – Repeals all offenses associated with marijuana, except for minors. House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Hearing Date: April 8, 2015. 171 in support, 22 against — most of whom work for the government. On May 6th the bill was called to a vote and passed out with a 5-2 vote making national news and history! Simpson joined Rep. Moody as a joint author of HB 507.The bill was not placed on calendar and died in the Calendar Committee.
Hemp Research (HB 557) – Rep. Joe Farias (D-San Antonio)- Allows the cultivation of hemp for certain research purposes. House Agriculture & Livestock Committee Hearing Date: March 18, 2015. The bill was voted on April 8th and passed out of committee 7-0. The bill was added to the Calendar for 5/14/15, but without time for a vote.
Hemp Industrial (HB 1322) — Rep. Joe Farias (D-San Antonio) – Allows the industrial production and sale of hemp in Texas. House Committee Hearing Date: March 18, 2015. The bill was left pending in Agriculture & Livestock Committee.
Medical Marijuana (HB 3785) – Rep. Marisa Marquez (D-El Paso) – Created a whole plant, comprehensive medical marijuana program. House Public Health Committee Hearing Date: April 28, 2015. The hearing was moving and impactful. Patients stayed until the early morning hours. This bill was left Pending in Public Health, where it died, due to Rep Crownover refusing to call a vote.
Medical Marijuana (SB 1839) – Senator Menendez (D-San Antonio) – Senate companion bill to HB 3785. This bill did not receive a hearing.
Affirmative Defense (HB 837) – Rep. Elliott Naishtat (D-Austin) – Creates an affirmative defense to prosecution for patients using marijuana medicinally and protected caregivers and doctors. House Public Health Committee Hearing Date: April 28, 2015. This bill was left Pending in Public Health, where it died, due to Crownover refusing to call a vote.
Low-THC Medical Marijuana aka CBD Only (HB 892) – Rep. Klick (R-Fort Worth) – Allows qualifying patients with intractable epilepsy to access low-THC cannabis oil by prescription. House Public Health Committee Hearing Date: April 28, 2015. The bill passed out of Committee with a vote of 8-1. The bill was added to the Calendar for 5/14/15, but without time for a vote. Its Senate companion bill was just signed into law.
Low-THC Medical Marijuana (SB 339) aka Texas Compassionate Use Act – Sen. Eltife (R-Tyler) – Allows qualifying patients with intractable epilepsy to access low-THC cannabis oil by prescription. While this program is very restrictive and there are concerns about whether or not it’ll be functional, this is an historic moment where Texas is acknowledging that CANNABIS IS MEDICINE!
We’re making incredible progress, national headlines, and exceeding expectations. This is an endurance race and we appreciate your stamina. Now is not the time to rest, there is still more work ahead.
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