Medicinal Marijuana, Decriminalization Efforts Back
A veteran lawmaker hopes actions taken by state legislatures in Washington and Colorado will pave the way for Texas policymakers to consider a bill that hasn’t been heard in committee in nearly a decade.
House Bill 594, by state Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, would provide an affirmative defense for patients who use marijuana based on the recommendation of their doctors. The bill would not allow a doctor to prescribe the illegal drug, but there would be no penalty levied against a physician who discusses it or recommends it, Naishtat said.
“There are two hurdles,” for the patient, he said ...
Comments (19)
visule
The war on drugs is a complete failure and burdens society with too many people with criminal records. I have never been a drug user, but I have seen firsthand the destruction it rained on my family and community. Having lived through it, I changed my attitude and favor decriminalizing (not legalizing) with restrictions and responsibilities. Lets face it, we live in a doped up, drug addicted culture and we need to let people decide for themselves and try to minimize the damage to the rest of us, and provide help to those that want it. This bill, if passed, would be a step in acknowleging things have to change.
Pickles Sorrell
Buy a clue: It ain't gonna happen.
Jon Perry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I believe so. It may take more time than other states, but eventually it will get there. End prohibition.
Glenda Taylor via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Nope. I doubt it very seriously ...
Sergio Hernandez De Santos via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The Paulinistas will vote for it
Debbie Mason via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I would vote for it to be legal. And I dont use it. It is time for it to pass.
Stanley Moore via Texas Tribune on Facebook
A waste of money policing a plant. Just crazy.
Austin Kaplan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Great question, TT. In 2010, the Bill White campaign wouldn't even touch this question when Evan asked it. The candidate likened the probability of reform to the probability of an "iceberg" crashing into Texas. I assume this was a strategic distancing based on polling. Is there any polling that suggests opinion has since changed on this in Texas?
Kimberly Levinson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Oh please. Fat chance that the pea brains in the Lege would ever have that much sense. Might as well wait for a cookbook of great Jewish pork recipes.
Austin Kaplan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Better put - does the 2011 polling suggest changing attitudes toward reform compared with prior polling? In any event, I support reform legislation for the reasons set forth in the article, and I urge you all to do the same.
Mary Nugent Cantrell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It should. But probably won't because it makes too much sense.
Sierra Treanor via Texas Tribune on Facebook
for once let's not be the last ones to come around to this Texas more than most states NEEDS this, given it's lovely proximity to Mexico's drug trade...
Samdavis
Not gonna happen because the Southern Baptist Church says so. Maybe when enough Baptists die off, change religions, or get outvoted by good citizens.
Steve Moore via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No, Texas always comes in last
V Marshall
Don't see the point of either of these two bills. Just legalize it (for adults), license producers and retailers, slap warning labels on the packaging, and tax it. Why proceed in increments?
Tamara Williams via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I would vote no!
David Spratt
So the argument would be ,,,, " This helps me work and live my life?" Where will you be working? If you have an occupational accident ,, you will be drug tested. If found to have drugs in your system this will cost you your job. This can be the least of your problems. If found to be under the influence or having used drugs if you are injured seriously then you would have no recourse for medical bills, disability, or loss of limb claims. Basically it will be held that it was your fault unless you can prove negligence. This is not easy to do since business is savvy to these types of claims and it is the workers responsibility to abide by and report occupational safety violations. Most have safety meetings regularly,, I have attended hundreds of them.
Consider if the accident results in the loss of life or limb to another person. You could be held responsible criminally and financially depending on the circumstances. For all those people complaining about the availability of jobs period,, or ones that pay well,,, most of these better paying occupations especially involving risk of injury to yourself or someone else,,,, you will be shut out of having those types of employment. Employers also are not fond of hiring drug users any more than they hire alcoholics.
The war on drugs is a failure , but just because a large number of people partake of any given activity is not a reason to endorse or encourage it. Laws have not stopped it and passing laws tolerating it will not diminish the ill effects it has on society in general. There is something to be said about a society that uses drugs whether they be prescription drugs, illegal narcotics, or alcohol widely and this is accepted as normal. Living your life in an altered state is the antithesis of normal and there are consequences . Texas should not jump on the bandwagon too quickly. See what happens elsewhere first. The result may or may not be what the advocates of legalization expect.
Let the public in these states that have legalized it be the guinea pigs and see what happens.
Tim Thomas via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If I were a Democrat I would seriously be looking at this to mobilize young voters.
visule
Mr sprat. Its a sorry , multifaceted problem. I think licensing dopers to obtain and use in exchange for privacy. If i'm an employer, I should be able to determine if job applicant has a dopers licence, and legally refuse to hire , if I don't want a doper employee. The insurance is difficult to sort out, same as other people who end up in the ER that contributed to the injury or medical problem.