The Raw Story: Willie Nelson’s prosecutor wants to see marijuana decriminalized
March 28, 2011Meeting Notes April 6th, 2011
April 6, 2011Message from Josh Schimberg, Executive Director of Texas NORML
“High all you Texas NORML supporters!
Don’t forget that our regularly scheduled monthly meeting is this Wednesday,
April 6th, 8:00pm, at Flamingo Cantina, 515 E 6th St, in Austin.
We will be getting warmed up for our April/May activities, and making a final
push for the marijuana related bills in the Texas Legislature.
The 2 Texas bills we’ve been active on are still pending in committee; HB 548
(to reduce the penalty for possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana), and HB
1491 (to provide an affirmative defense to patients with a written doctors
recommendation, and protect those doctors).
HB 548, which had a public hearing on March 1st, has yet to be put up for a vote
in the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, and we need you ALL to call the Chair
of that Committtee, Rep. Pete Gallego, and politely ask for him to put HB 548 up
for a committee vote.
You can call Rep. Gallego’s Capitol office at: (512) 463-0566
HB 1491, which was assigned to the Public Health Committee, has not yet even had
a public hearing scheduled. We need you ALL to call the Chair of the Public
Health Committee, Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, and politely ask for her to schedule HB
1491 a public hearing as soon as possible.
You can call Rep. Kolkhorst’s Capitol office at: (512) 463-0600
Texans have this year, through NORML, taken more action on these 2 bills than
any other bills in the entire country! And we have you all to thank for that!
Please don’t stop trying, because we have to keep the pressure on our elected
officials non-stop to make things happen in Texas.
Now, after you’ve made your calls to those Committee Chairpersons, please get
out your calendar and mark these dates:
Texas NORML will have our booth, as usual, at the Austin Reggae Festival, April
15-17th, at Auditorium Shores in Austin. If you are at the Reggae Fest, please
stop by our booth and say HIGH!
On Wednesday, April 20th, Texas NORML is taking part in a FREE! Potluck Dinner
and Art Show at Hot Mama’s Cafe, 2401 E 6th St #1004, starting at 4:20pm.
There will be a cannabis inspired art show, some chill music and all we ask you
to bring is a dish/drinks and your good vibes.
And don’t forget that this event is totally free!
More info can be round here at the event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202932339728460
Our next event is the “Go Green with Texas NORML, Earthday Mixer”, Friday, April
22nd, 6pm-2am, at the United States Art Authority, 2906 Fruth St, Austin, TX,
beside Spiderhouse Cafe.
This event is to raise funds for our public outreach campaign. We have already
been running radio ads on a variety of stations this year, but need to raise
funds in order to maintain and expand that outreach.
Cover charge is $10 for current Texas NORML members, $15 for non-members, and
we’ll have over 20 performing acts including bands, musicians, comedians, and
poets. Food will also be available from Hot Mama’s and Kimry’s Ital Palace, plus
we’ll have a live glass-blowing demonstration brought to us by Pipes
Plus/SmoCo.
You can find a list of the performers on the event’s Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108002029275687
On Friday, April 29th, Texas NORML is a co-sponsor of a great Rock-N-Roll show
with The Austin 420, http://theaustin420.com/ , at the Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red
River St, Austin, 9:00pm. This rockin’ show will feature performances by,
Thunderosa, Snake Skin Prison, Sunglasses & Mushrooms, and Zig-Zag Illusion. It
is an all ages show, and cover is only $5!
Our biggest event this year will be the Texas Marijuana March on Saturday, May
7th, 2-4pm, when we’re bringing a potential Presidential Candidate & former New
Mexico Governor, Gary Johnson, to speak at the Texas State Capitol. Russ
Belville, from National NORML, will also be here, along with NORML Women’s
Alliance member, Greta Gaines, Chief Greenbud, Austin City Council Candidate,
Kris Bailey, among others. This is a FREE event, with a march from the entrance
of Waterloo Park, to the South Capitol Steps, and rally for legalization of
marijuana.
Parking at the Capitol is available in the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage at
1201 San Jacinto located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets at 12th and
13th streets. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1.00 for each half
hour thereafter (maximum daily charge: $8.00); accessible parking is available
with accessible routes to the Capitol. Metered spaces are available throughout
the complex.
We are encouraging everyone in attendance to meet Saturday, May 7th, 1:15pm,
near the corner of 12th St. and Trinity St., adjacent to Waterloo Park. From
there, at about 1:45pm, we will march down to 11th St. and over to the South
Capitol Steps for the rally from 2:00-4:00pm.
More information and details on Texas NORML’s Marijuana March can be found here:
https://www.texasnorml.org/?page_id=1071
and
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177282405640318&ref=ts
That is a lot of info to digest, so I’ll leave you with that for now. If you
have any questions about anything, please don’t hesitate to ask me.
Thanks again for your continued support, and we will see you all soon!
Cannabem Liberemus!”
Josh Schimberg
Executive Director, Texas NORML
[email protected]
https://www.texasnorml.org/
http://www.facebook.com/texasnorml
http://www.twitter.com/texasnorml
