March 4, 2015

Bill Introduced In Texas That Would End Marijuana Prohibition

March 4, 2015
texas medical marijuana

texas medical marijuanaTexas State Representative David Simpson has introduced a bill that would eliminate all marijuana prohibition language from the laws in Texas. Texas HB 2165 would essentially regulate marijuana like tomatoes. Per the organization Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition:

Representative Simpson’s HB 2165 harkens back to a time when government did not intervene in the control of marijuana. And you know what? It wasn’t a very scary time. The prohibition of marijuana was notoriously built on misinformation and hyperbole rather than facts and results.

When these laws haven’t worked for 80 years, is it really such a novel concept to simply remove them?

Representative David Simpson had the following to say about his effort, per The Joint Blog:

“We can’t fix all of the past wrongs caused by prohibition, but at least we can stop perpetuating them,” says Representative Simpson. “Current marijuana policies are not based on science or sound evidence, but rather misinformation and fear. All that God created is good, including marijuana. God did not make a mistake when he made marijuana that the government needs to fix.”

Simpson continues; “Let’s allow the plant to be utilized for good—helping people with seizures, treating warriors with PTSD, producing fiber and other products—or simply for beauty and enjoyment. Government prohibition should be for violent actions that harm your neighbor—not of the possession, cultivation, and responsible use of plants.”

Passing a bill that regulates marijuana like tomatoes is not an easy thing to do. And that is especially true in a state like Texas. Texas does not have an initiative system, which means that the only way to reform marijuana laws is via the Texas Legislature. But it’s a fight worth pursuing, and even if it just gets the conversation going, that will lay the ground work for a legalization effort that has a better chance of passing, such as regulating marijuana like alcohol.

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