Call Gov. Abbott today and ask him to sign HB 1535 into law!

Texas’ 2021 legislative session adjourned on Monday, May 31. Although several cannabis reform bills were introduced this year, only one very modest reform — HB 1535 — was approved by the legislature. The bill now heads to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for action.

Call the governor’s office today and ask that he sign HB 1535 into law!

The bill would expand the state’s low-THC medical cannabis program to include people with cancer and PTSD. It would also modestly increase the current 0.5% THC cap on medical cannabis to 1%.

Sadly, the Senate did not take up a bill — HB 441 — that would have eliminated the threat of jail time for up to one ounce of cannabis. Let your lawmakers know you want them to decriminalize cannabis during the next legislative session!

While HB 1535 is a modest improvement, there is still a great deal of work to be done to establish an effective medical cannabis program for patients across the Lone Star State.

After you call the governor and ask him to sign HB 1535 into law, please also reach out to your lawmakers to ask them to establish an effective medical cannabis program and decriminalize cannabis when they return in 2023!

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Call your senator today and ask them to improve and pass HB 1535!

With just a few days left in the legislative session, the medical cannabis expansion bill is getting close to the finish line!

Yesterday, the Senate State Affairs Committee unanimously passed (9-0) a bill (HB 1535) that would expand the state’s low-THC cannabis program. The bill has already been approved by the House of Representatives and is now cleared for a vote by the full Senate.

Please call your senator to improve and pass HB 1535.

Disappointingly, the bill was amended to reduce the cap on THC from 5% to 1% by weight. (The current cap is 0.5%.) The committee also amended the qualifying conditions: The bill now expands the program to include PTSD but omits chronic pain.

The legislative session is set to end on May 31. Ask your senator to stand with patients and improve the state’s low-THC cannabis program before session ends.

Thank you to our allies at Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, who are working hard to improve and pass this legislation. Please call your senator today, and stay tuned for future updates!

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Ask your lawmakers to stop arresting cannabis consumers this year!

Cannabis policy reform is continuing to gain momentum in the Texas Legislature! The House of Representatives approved two bills last week:

• HB 441, which would eliminate the threat of jail time for up to one ounce of cannabis while creating an opportunity for deferral, dismissal, and non-disclosure. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. 
  
  
• HB 1535, which would expand the state’s low-THC medical cannabis program. The bill would add cancer, chronic pain, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as conditions that could qualify people for the program. The bill now heads to the Senate.

Be sure to reach out to your state senator and ask them to stop arresting cannabis consumers and support HB 441.

Then, please call your senator to improve and pass HB 1535.

The legislative session is set to end on May 31. Make sure your lawmakers know this issue matters to voters; ask them to support decriminalization and an effective medical cannabis law this year.

Stay tuned for future updates!

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Ask your lawmakers to support changing the penalty for cannabis possession from possible jail time to a civil fine!

Several bills have been introduced to reform Texas’ outdated cannabis laws. Among the proposals are bills to expand the state’s current low-THC medical cannabis program; to decriminalize possession of up to an ounce of cannabis; and to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older.

House committees have approved bills to decriminalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis (HB 441) and a bill that would expand Texas’ current low-THC medical cannabis program by allowing more qualifying conditions and increasing the THC cap for medical cannabis products from 0.03 percent to 5 percent (HB 1535).

The legislative session is set to end on May 31. Ask your lawmakers to decriminalize cannabis and establish an effective medical cannabis program!

Texas is now one of only 14 states with no effective medical cannabis law, and one of only 19 that still imposes jail time for simple possession of cannabis. Make sure your lawmakers know this issue matters to voters; ask them to support decriminalization and an effective medical cannabis law this year!

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Check out our allies’ Texas Marijuana Policy Voter Guide.

Early voting in Texas started today — Tuesday, October 13 — and lasts until Friday, October 30, and Election Day is November 3!

In past years, comprehensive cannabis bills have been proposed, but only modest reforms — such as a limited, low-THC medical cannabis program — have passed. This year, Texans have the opportunity to vote in a new legislature that could reform the state’s outdated cannabis laws.

Our allies at Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy surveyed candidates for the Texas House, Texas Senate, U.S. House, and U.S. Senate on where they stand on a range of cannabis policies. Check out the voter guide ahead of the upcoming election to find out candidate responses to the survey, as well as voting records for incumbents.

You can find out if you’re registered to vote here and find out when, where, and how to vote here.

State legislative races are often close contests that can be decided by just a few votes. Don’t miss out on a chance to decide who will represent you in Austin and vote on Texas’ cannabis policy in the 2021 session.

After you’ve had a chance to look at the voter guide, be sure to spread the word by forwarding this message to friends and family and sharing the voter guide on social media.

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Earlier this week, the Texas Legislature adjourned after its 140-day legislative session. This year's session brought successes and setbacks. Prohibitionists went to great lengths to keep the status quo and some of their reefer madness unfortunately worked.

What Passed:

Industrial Hemp Legalization – HB 1325 legalizes industrial hemp in Texas and establishes a regulatory structure so that Texans may soon start growing hemp.

Limited Low-THC Medical Cannabis Expansion – HB 3703 removes the two-physician requirement for a medical marijuana card and expands the qualifying conditions to include: epilepsy, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, ALS, autism, terminal cancer, and incurable neurodegenerative diseases. It does not change the 0.5% THC cap. HB 3703 is currently on Gov. Greg Abbott's desk.

What Fell Short:

Marijuana Decriminalization – HB 63, which would have replaced possible jail time with a fine, passed in the Texas House but stalled in the Texas Senate after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made it his mission to kill the bill.

Comprehensive Medical Marijuana Expansion – HB 1365 would have expanded qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, increased the number of dispensaries, and established a research review board that could allow different amounts of cannabinoids. This bill passed in the Texas House but did not receive a hearing in the Senate.

Unfortunately, the Texas Legislature won't be back in session until 2021. That means two more years of patients suffering and needless arrests. We want to congratulate everyone who worked so hard to make progress, including Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy.

Support for marijuana reform is at an all-time high so let's keep our chins up and keep pushing. Together, we can change marijuana laws in Texas.

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If you live in Texas, contact your state senator in support of marijuana decriminalization.

Yesterday, the Texas House of Representatives passed HB 63, a bill that would stop arresting and jailing individuals who possess up to an ounce of cannabis. The bill now heads to the Texas Senate for a vote. Already, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tweeted that HB 63 is “dead” in the Texas Senate.

Let your senator know that marijuana decriminalization is not dead in Texas today!

While the bill removes the threat of jail time, we are disappointed that the fine was raised to $500 on the House floor yesterday. Such a steep fine will disproportionately effect Texans with lesser means. The Senate should lower the fine or allow community service in lieu of a fine.

Please contact your senator today, and let’s send the bill to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk!

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If you live in Texas, contact your lawmakers today in support of HB 63.

After passing in a 5-2 vote in the House Jurisprudence Committee, HB 63 is scheduled for a vote in the Texas House of Representatives this Thursday. Please contact your lawmakers in support of marijuana decriminalization right now.

If HB 63 passes, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana would be punishable by a $250 fine for the first two offenses, and it would be considered a class C misdemeanor for subsequent offenses. Currently, possessing any amount of marijuana is punishable by jail time in Texas.

Given that the Texas Republican Party endorsed marijuana decriminalization and Gov. Gregg Abbott has expressed willingness to sign a bill that reduces penalties for possession, the environment has never been better for change in Texas.

So please, contact your lawmakers today and then forward this email to friends and family and ask they do the same. Together, we can reform marijuana laws in Texas.

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If you live in Texas, ask your state lawmakers to support decriminalizing marijuana.

A bill to stop arresting and jailing marijuana consumers in Texas cleared an important hurdle yesterday, when it passed the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. But it has a long way to go before it becomes law.

Ask your state lawmakers to support decriminalizing marijuana in Texas.

Currently, possession of two ounces or less is a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of a fine of up to $2,000 and up to 180 days in jail. HB 63 would make the penalty for possessing one ounce or less a fine of $250. This would apply to an individual's first two offenses; after the second offense, it would be a class C misdemeanor, which carries a fine with no jail time.

Texas is punishing adults for using a substance that is safer than alcohol and it's costing the state millions in tax dollars and ruining thousands of Texans' lives. In 2017 alone, there were more than 64,000 arrests for marijuana possession in Texas.

Please ask your lawmakers to support decriminalizing marijuana today. Together, we can bring sensible marijuana policies to Texas.

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Click here to register for Texas Marijuana Policy Lobby Day.

Texas' short legislative session has begun, and over a dozen bills have already been filed to change the state's marijuana policies. A lot of progress has been made since the last time the Texas Legislature was in session, and now is the time to reach out to your lawmakers.

For added impact, talk to your lawmakers in person. Our allies at Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy will be holding a lobby day on Thursday, February 7. The day will start with a legislative advocacy training and then teams will break off to reach out to their specific lawmakers. The two big priorities for this session are decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana and expanding access to medical marijuana.

Be sure to dress professionally and be courteous. If you need help with transportation, DFW NORML and Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition are sponsoring buses from Fort Worth and Houston.

So please, do your best to make it to Austin next Thursday, and be sure bring friends and family. Whether or not you can make it, please use our action form to send a quick email to ask your lawmakers to replace arrests and jail time with a modest fine for marijuana possession. Or, you can ask them to support comprehensive medical cannabis legislation.

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