I am overjoyed at this attempt, although it probably has as much chance of hanging in there as a snowball in a volcano.
The use of religious language to present the bill bothers me a little bit. I don't think that's necessary, but this IS Texas, and if that's what it takes to get this bill into law, well, hallelujah, brother!! I can be as much of a hypocrite as anyone else!!
Praise the Lord and pass the pipe!
Republican state lawmaker proposes dismantling Texas marijuana laws
HOUSTON - Calling it "a gift from God", a Republican state lawmaker has introduced a bill to completely legalize marijuana possession and marijuana use in the state of Texas.
"I don't advocate the irresponsible use of anything," said State Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview). "But it's a plant God made, he didn't make a mistake when he made it, and government doesn't need to fix it."
Monday, Simpson introduced HB 2165, which he calls "a comprehensive repeal of all marijuana or cannabis offenses."
"I think it's common sense and realization that the war on drug policies have failed. We need to use the plant that God made that is good, responsibly to help people," he said of medical marijuana and compassionate use proposals which are also proposed in the current legislature.
"First of all I said thank God that somebody is speaking out as a true Republican," said Ann Lee the founder and executive director of Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition.
"It's freedom. Freedom to do what you think is best. The government shouldn't stand in the way," said Lee a Republican who became a convert to medical marijuana use after her son suffered a severe spinal cord injury in the 1990's and said that marijuana was the only solution to his constant pain.
"Shouldn't the party of Abraham Lincoln be for freedom? We have to recognize that the marijuana laws is bad law and we need to work to change it," said Lee.
There are, at present, seven other bills devoted to easing marijuana restrictions under consideration in the 84th Session of the Texas Legislature. Simpson's bill is the only one that proposes a full-scale removal of marijuana laws.
"Government shouldn't be involved unless you're really harming your neighbor," said Simpson who has said the plant should be no more regulated than tomatoes or jalapenos.
HB 2165 was also applauded by more liberal groups like the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana laws, who agree with Simpson that pot shouldn't be a government's concern.
"We applaud Rep. Simpson's virtuous and unwavering support for personal freedom. The discussion about reforming marijuana laws in the Lone Star State is clearly upon us," said Houston NORML executive director Jason Miller. "We strongly believe that marijuana should be regulated in a manner similar to alcohol. This bill will essentially erase prohibition; allowing us to wipe the slate clean and enact sensible policy that will greatly benefit people here in the great state of Texas."
Original is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment