HB’s 548 and 1491 News/Upcoming Events leading up to Texas Marijuana March 2011

Good Afternoon, Everyone

We want to thank every one for all the calls, hand written letters and e-mails you’ve sent about HB’s 548 and 1491. The Representatives of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee were very aware of HB 548 and we have video of the testimony from people just like you standing up for what they believe in. The CJC is scheduled to meet again tomorrow and we need you to call Committee Chair Pete Gallego(512-463-0566) and Vice Chair-Will Harnett (512-463-0576) and leave messages with their offices if you don’t speak with someone directly and urge them to push HB 548 to the floor. Our state is in an incredible budget crisis and passing HB 548 and reducing these penalties could potentially save taxpayers here in Texas over half a billion dollars a year. Instead of cutting school funding and social services and harming our state even further, how about we stop arresting people for a victimless crime and start putting that money and manpower back into our schools and our police force focusing on things that truly matter. With your help, Texas, we can make a difference in our policies. People have been doing it for hundreds of years and there’s nothing stopping us but us. Get on the Horn and let our esteemed representatives know that if they want your support, you want theirs as well or it’s going to someone who deserves it. To contact the committee by email before this important meeting tomorrow, click here. We also have video of the hearing testimony at the bottom of the article if you’d like to see ordinary Texans like you and I standing up for what they believe in.

HB 1491, an act relating to an affirmative defense law here in Texas and protection for doctors who recommend it has not had a date set for it’s Public Health Committee hearing yet but as soon as we have the information, you will as well. If you’d like to contact your representatives about putting HB 1491 up to a vote, head to our Activism page to get the phone numbers of the Representatives in your areas and click here to send an email to your officials as well. Patients should not be denied a right to a medication that does no harm to them and is clinically proven to alleviate many of the symptoms of our worst afflictions. While this does not initially protect them from arrest, hopefully it will help dissuade officers from arresting legitimate patients. If they have their correct documentation, knowing it will be thrown out of court and cost the city thousands of dollars to pursue it, we’d hope that they would realize what a waste it would be of their time and the taxpayers money. You’ve all done so much already and we thank every single one of you from the bottom of our hearts but we’re not done yet. Call them up, shoot them an email, do whatever you can do today to help reform in your state. If you want responsible drug policy, call and ask for responsible drug policy.

We have many events leading up to the Texas Marijuana March this year on May 7th and we wanted to give everyone a heads up on the exciting events we have going on. This is a fluid list so always check out our Event Calender for updated information on what events we’ll have going on throughout the year.

3/17-3/19-ATX Wildfire Reggae and Arts Festival:
Texas NORML will be at Ruta Maya, 3601 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX, for the ATX Wildfire Reggae & Arts Festival. Texas NORML is an official sound sponsor of the ATX Wildfire this year, and thebest thing about this event is it is all ages and totally free to attend! There will be delicious Caribbean food from Kimry’s Ital Palace, and the event runs from 11:00am till 2:00am each day, featuring more than 10 musical acts each day.

3/20 –High Times Doobie Awards:
Time is from Noon-6:00pm, the annual High Times Doobie Awards will be
happening at Emo’s Austin, 603 Red River St, Austin, TX from Noon to 6pm. The High Times Doobie Awards are the annual music awards given out by High Times Magazine, and is one of the best events of the year in Austin (for NORML folks). Tickets to the Doobie Awards are $15 presale, or $20 at the door, and you can
get your tickets here.

4/15-4/17-Reggae fest 2011:
The Largest Reggae Party in Texas is coming up soon and we want you all to be a part of it! We will be sharing a booth with UNT NORML and their “Plant a Seed” campaign, working on developing student chapters at colleges all throughout Texas and Austin 420 Quarterly Magazine will be there with us this year

4/20-Potluck with Hot Mama’s:
– Free event at Hot Mama’s Cafe. There will be a cannabis inspired art show and all we ask you to bring is a dish/drinks and your good vibes. Party will be from 4pm to close. More information will be available on the event calendar after SXSW

4/22-Go Green with Texas NORML Spring Mixer:
– Our spring party this year will be our largest one yet. Over 20 acts including Samuel Caldwell’s Revenge , Better Halves, One Step Program, Clyde and Clem’s Whiskey Business, Ill Faded and other musical acts, comedienne Kat Ramzinski, poets such as Paul Bullock and Jeff Callaway and many more will be with us at the U.S. Art Authority, 2906 Fruth St Austin, TX, from 6pm to 2am. Admission will be 10 dollars for current Texas NORML members and 15 for anyone else who wants to come on down and enjoy the party. This is one event you will not want to miss!

4/23-Houston NORML’s 4/20 Fest-Last Concert Cafe:
Join us for our national holiday. After going from the Westheimer Street Fest to Allen Parkway, one time downtown and down Washington Ave. we moved our 420 Fest to the Last Concert Cafe 10 years ago.
We will have Jodi James from the Journey for Justice Texas Style as our featured speaker along with local political activists, a Hemp fashion show and great music from Bigga Staar, Yello Echo, House of Griffin, Vicarious Me, Tom Loud, Steve, Don Dada and more. Poets Lady Pariah, Shanie and Socrateez, DJ O, Hempstorian. More details to come.

As you can see, we have many exciting events coming up leading up to the big one at the capital on May 7th, we hope to see y’all at a lot of them but the one on the 7th is essential. Let’s show our representatives that we are willing to march and work towards what we believe in and we will not be quieted. It’s been over 40 years since Nixon was recommended to lower the scheduling of Cannabis and we’re still fighting the battle this day and we refuse to give up. We have the truth on our side and just need to use our manpower to bring it to the masses, one person at a time. Cannabis Liberum in 2011!

Onward and upward,

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