Legislation Alert: Commitee on HB 548 Meeting Tomorrow Morning!

Afternoon, all

This is it! Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 1st, HB 548 will be brought before the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee at 10:30am, in room JHR 120 at the Capitol to see if it will be brought before the House for a vote. We need everyone in support of common sense cannabis law reform to head up there and politely let your reps know this is something you would be interested in. Over 1300 E-Mails have been sent to them about HB 548 as well as many more calls and hand written letters. Today is the final day so make sure to Call and Email your representative so it makes our case that much stronger.

Texas Decriminalization Bill HB548 Scheduled for a Hearing. The Texas Legislature has moved on HB 548, a bill to make possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana a Class C Misdemeanor in Texas, has been scheduled for a Public Hearing in the Cri…minal Jurisprudence Committee Josh, of Texas NORML, and I will be witnesses at this hearing. All may show without having to be called to witness. Don’t forget to contact your Representative.

HELP KEEP YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OUT OF JAIL FOR A VICTIMLESS CRIME!

HB 548, An act relating to the penalties for possession of two ounces or less of “marihuana” and to the issuance of an occupational driver ’s license, HAS been reintroduced into the Texas House of Representatives by Rep. Harold V. Dutton (D-TX). We need everyone voting age in Texa…s and in favor of some common sense in our drug laws here in the Lone Star State to contact their Reps in all 3 ways to get this up for a vote. The ONLY way to get change here in Texas is to get our Reps to vote to put it on the ballot, which they won’t do if they don’t know you want it. Cannabis Liberum in 2011!

HB 548 is a bill that pertains to lowering the penalties of possession here in Texas. While we want full legalization eventually, we know that in Texas, it’s going to take a lot of smaller bills favoring reform getting passed first. This bill, while not perfect, lowers possession of under an ounce from a class B misdemeanor to a class C, meaning only a fine and no jail time and could keep many of your friends and family members from losing their jobs/tuition for choosing to be safer.

To find the contact information of your Representative at the Capitol, click here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/district.aspx?DistType=HOUSE&AllDistrict=on

For more information on HB 548 and a email you can send to your representatives here in Texas, click here: http://www.capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=22059736

The full bill can be viewed here at capitol.state.tx.us: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/HB00548I.pdf#navpanes=0

For all other information on upcoming legislation in Texas, check out our Activism page.

Onward and upward,

Topher Belsher
Director of Online Community Outreach
Texas NORML
[email protected]