Marc Katz, Democratic Candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Pushing for Medical Marijuana in Texas

Marc Katz pushes for legalization of medical marijuana in Texas

January 14, 2010 – Austin, TX – Marc Katz, candidate for lieutenant governor of Texas announced today that it is time for Texas to move towards the legalization of marijuana for medical use. After the US Supreme Court affirmed states’ rights to medical marijuana in May of 2009, many states have begun to openly debate the issue.

“We should summon the same humanity that many other states have and aggressively move towards the legalization of marijuana for medical use,” said Marc Katz, candidate for lieutenant governor of Texas, democratic ticket. “Even New Jersey is working on this, so why can’t Texas?”

“Our organization would like to see the next bill that comes out of the Texas legislature to not only protect patients who are caught by law, but make provisions for patients to either grow their own medicine or allow caregivers to provide, like in so many other states,” said Josh Schimberg Executive Director of Texas NORML. “The reason for legalization of marijuana is that the patients who are in the most need are the patients who have the least ability to acquire their medicine. Patients should be allowed to provide themselves with the medicine that helps them with what they need.”

Most recently the state of New Jersey legalized medicinal use of marijuana with some of the strictest regulations in the nation. Many speculate that New Jersey is attempting to avoid a surge in medical marijuana dispensaries like California has reportedly seen. Last year Governor Schwarzenegger of California urged for a study on legalizing medicinal marijuana use to make up for budgetary shortfalls. New York is rumored to be the next state to legalize medical usage of cannabis.

Contact:
Stacey Hines
Communications Coordinator, Marc Katz for lieutenant governor of Texas campaign
512.762.4286
http://www.marckatzforltgov.com/