From Thursday, June 7th through Saturday, June 9th, the Texas Democratic Party held their state convention in Houston, Texas. Along side other election related business such as selecting delegates, they also voted on their party platform for 2012. One of the issues added this year was support for marijuana decriminalization. Below you can read the official language:
Decriminalization of Marijuana
This decriminalization of marijuana does not mean we endorse the use of marijuana but it is only a call to wiser use of law enforcement and public health policy. Prohibition of marijuana abdicates the control of marijuana production and distribution to drug cartels and street gangs. Such prohibition promotes disrespect for the law and reinforces ethnic and generational divides between the public and law enforcement.
Every year, hundreds and thousands of Americans are arrested for marijuana possession violations- far more than all those arrested for violent crimes in America. Societal costs dealing with the war on drugs concerning marijuana exceeds 12 billion dollars annually. Since the war on drugs began, 85% of the arrests for marijuana have been for possession only.
Marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol or tobacco. Recent polls show over 50% of Americans believe marijuana should be decriminalized. While arrests for marijuana since 1965 have been over 20 million citizens, marijuana is more prevalent than ever before.
There is no evidence that marijuana is a “gateway” drug leading to the use of more lethal drugs. 75% of citizens arrested for marijuana are under 30. Minorities account for a majority of those arrested for marijuana. Criminal conviction permanently scars a young citizen for life.
Texas Democrats urge the President, the Attorney General and the Congress to support the passage of legislation to decriminalize the possession of marijuana and regulate its use, production and sale as is done with tobacco and alcohol.
We further urge the immediate decriminalization of the possession and use of medical marijuana.
The Texas Democrats now join the growing list of state political parties throwing their support behind marijuana law reform. Earlier this year, the Colorado Democratic Party added marijuana legalization as a plank to their party’s platform and announced support for their state’s legalization ballot initiative, Amendment 64. 56% of Denver Country Republican Assembly also voted in favor of supporting this initiative. The state democratic party in Washington endorsed their legalization initiative, I-502, in late 2011.
While the federal government may continue to ignore the will of the people on the marijuana issue, it is comforting to see state level politicians supporting the interests and desires of their constituencies. Considering that pro-reform candidates are winning elections in multiple states, respected party members such as Governor Cuomo (D-NY) and Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D-Chicago) are endorsing decriminalization, and the continuous flow of marijuana law reform being approved at the state level, one has to wonder just how much longer the federal government and current presidential contenders can ignore the giant green elephant in the room.
Good news, nice to see some common sense comming from the south for once.
This endorsement would help vote out some unchallenged Republican Congressmen who voted NO on the Rohrabacher of California Amendment. It would also provide some competition among Democrats.
I’m an Independent that likes to read Ron Paul’s books.
“Remember the Rohrbacher-Hinchey Amendment!”
Clean the House. Get rid of the 212 Republicans and the 50 Democrats that had voted NO. Save the United States. End the Fed.
I’m still an Independent that likes to read books by Ron Paul.
I DONT BELIEVE IT I DONT BELIEVE IT I AM FROM TEXAS I AM SO EXCITED THAT I POO IN MY PANTS (I am 55 years old and I really dint believe I every see this in Texas )
I just had to read this again I cant believe it. I knew praying would work Thank you God
wow, to be honest, i never saw this coming. seems to me southerners are too drunk and bible bashing to have common sense.
this coming from a michigander living in north carolina.
hopefully i will be proven wrong…
Don’t forget the media!!!!! They are also ignoring this issue. This is true of the many news channels refusing to air anything to do with the legalization issue; pretending it is not even happening. It is also true of social media like Twitter that refuse to post or even acknowledge the 9/9 time #1 question being when can we discuss legalization. Those jackasses even went so far as to ignore the #1 question and raise #2 to #1.
What’s this? The south is beginning to show signs of having a brain?
Little by little, brick by brick, the wall called prohibition is starting to crumble. The prez and his challenger won’t stand on this issue because they are too afraid but it doesn’t matter. The death, destruction and lies of the great deception also known as prohibition is on its last legs. Never underestimate the resolve of the American people, we are smarter than you think and the numbers that want their freedom back are quickly eclipsing the ones who don’t. Our day is coming, we can’t all show our faces because we have kids to feed and mortgage payments to make but best believe come November our voices will be heard! End cannabis prohibition now!
This is another wave of common sense politics adding to the coming tsunami of change that will soon wash away cannabis prohibition.
Still, why is it so difficult to recognize and declare that marijuana is actually much less harmful, not merely “no more dangerous” than alcohol and tobacco? To me, such statements continue to support a cultural denial of how harmful alcohol and tobacco clearly are.
What does the Texas Republican Party have to say about this ?
I saw this on my Facebook feed, and immediately posted it to my wall… I am from Texas, currently live in Texas, and never thought I’d see a waiver like this in Texas. I am very excited to see this grow and mature into real action instead of talk. I’ve been telling everyone for years, that if Texas ever goes the route of legalization of MJ it would be because of federal law first v.s. the state law first.
I’d like to state that I do not believe that decriminalization really helps the situation (over all in america) simply because it just makes it easier for cartels/gangs to operate their drug dealing. Prohibition is just not the way to go no matter how little the fine is.
With that being said, it’s a very slight stepping stone in the right direction, as long as things are continuing to move forward for legalization, regulation, and taxation. (Just like tobacco and alcohol) It would actually help Texas tremendously in fighting drug traffic via the boarder.
All in all I hope that this sparks progression in my home state of Texas.
This is stunning. I didn’t expect anything of the sort until 2016.
The official language of the platform is stunningly lucid. My only beef with it is the comparison with dangers from the use of the physically addicting, self-destructive drugs alcohol and caffeine.
Maybe I’ll vote Democratic this year after all.
Sorry. Should have said nicotine instead of caffeine.
THEN WE CAN TAX THE CRAP OUT OF IT!!! YES!
Like many of you I am a profession, husband and father. Very glad to see I can someday (In the near future) be able to look my child in the eye and not feel like a criminal, or simply a bad parent because my “only” substance of choice is responsible recreational use of marijuana.
My only concern is the non-sensible term “decriminalization”. Basically they’re stating that marijuana is still a crime. Albeit we have to continue to take “baby steps” to put an end to prohibition.
Simply put my only votes will go to candidates who are 100% on our side of the fence.
Excuse my grammar “professional” . . not profession.
Remember how easy going Obama was before he was elected. Maybe the democrats realize they can lie about this and then go back on what they promised once elected (because marijuana voters will not cause any trouble). I hope not
Fu k off matteroflib, bet you wont come down to the South and say that lmao I guarantee you Texas is far more advanced then whatever butt fu k egypt town you’re from! Annnnnd we have better dank then you! Ahahahahahaha
The hour is upon us! Rise my brothers, rise!
The number of people that support the drug war are changing there address toc cemmatarys al over the country we will prevail the lies will end
They need to fix their grammar: “regulate it’s use” -> “regulate its use”
Texas is a big deal. The next step is when Texas legalized medical marijuana. The two largest of the contiguous United States definitely says hands off to the feds. If you can get Texas to go, you may have less of a slog on the neighboring states. On the other side of the coin, we may see states that border on Texas going in favor of MMJ before Texas, in turn applying ever so much more pressure on Texas.
I’m looking at being suckered into voting for Obama on this single issue. Romney’s got Bain which is indeed his bane.
If Romney is elected, the same course is called for. If Romney is elected, keep running the economy into the ground until cannabis is legalized. Romney is not creative and he’s got no connection with the creators of new products, and he’s got no plan to trod them out to make jobs for the everyone here in the U.S. It’ll take more capital than he himself has to get the economy engined up.
Just hold back on that investment and private stimulus money until cannabis is legal, Obama or Romney.
This dont mean shit! Talk is cheap. One fucking redneck state’s democratic party calling for decriminalization is A LONG WAY OFF FROM FULL OUT RELEGALIZATION.
Hayleylujah!
I didn’t see this coming to Texas *quite this soon*, But I guees it shouldn’t be a big surprise – what with Legislation by Governor Chafee in Rhode Island, a decrim-proposal by Governor Andrew Cuomo in NY, & decrim-talk by Rahm Emanuel in Chicago, more legislation in Hew Hampshire that very well may overide a threatened veto by Gov Lynch.
The election of Ellen Rosenblum – as Oregon’s new Attorney General, and the Dem. Primary win by (soon-to-be Representative) Robert “Beto” O’Rourke here in Texas…
Along with ballot measures/initiatives in Detroit, Michigan & North Dakota, also Colorado (Amendment 64) and Washington state will hold fall referendums on legalizing marijuana.
Plus, news that Washington D.C. looks to have four medical marijuana dispensaries opening in the near future…
This is amazing = I kept wondering when the Fiscal situation, Pragmatic-Reasonable thinking, & some form of = Hey, Nanny-Staters, “Don’t Mess with Texas!” would finally surface? This could be it…
I am slowly coming to the conclusion that we should all start voting for Democrats – period – unless a Republican candidate for whatever office makes it clear that they will support ending prohibition! I have been planning to vote for Gary Johnson but now believe that any vote that is not for Obama is a vote for that nightmarish entity known as Romney… People – we cannot let Romney win!!! I know, and believe me I’m pissed off about it, that Obama has let us all down big time, but Romney would be much worse!
I am happy to learn that TX Democrats are coming to their senses 🙂 Now, I can only hope to hear some positive news here in the big tobacco land of VA…
Wow, maybe Texas will be getting my tourist dollars…..
At any rate, it’s looking like we’re reaching a real tipping point concerning mj legalization. When Russians started rising up against communism, it only took R.Reagan’s utterance, “tear down that wall” for citizens to start literally crumbling down the wall. And we live in a supposedly FREE country, so how much harder can this be?
Don’t get too excited,,Tx is historically Republican’t,,,but,,with our state legislature arguing on which prisons to close because of funding,,it could cause a lot of ‘R’ to vote ‘D’…
all just words, ain’t no action. the politicos just tell you what they think you want to hear to get your vote. after they get your vote, it’s fuc* you i do what I want, and i ain’t for no damn legalization. we voted to legalize med pot in cali. and 17 yrs later we’re still having to fight like dogs for our rights. why? cuz of all the LITTLE POLITICOS who know better than the people who elected them and hot damn they’re going to save us from ourselfs,even if it kills us.
I guess that’s nice until you consider how Democrats are represented in Texas’ congress.
YES!!!!! I live in texas this is such great news!
Hey prohibs , time to cry UNCLE! After all you have been warned by the world.
Hooray for AMERICANS. I don’t consider our congress to be Americans, rather corporations. Lets get our country back to working for us! Im still voting for my Dog for president, my dog is loyal and would never bite me. I cant trust anyone else.
If this passes I’m moving to Texas!!
The thing that will help get the cartels out of the picture is permission for individuals to also grow 20 plants in their home so they don’t have to got to the dealers to get their smoke. Also time to put forth plenty of new information campaigns about the truth of MJ being less harmful than the govt has previously advertised.
Decriminalizing possession will help tremendously, but will still leave the door open for the drug cartels and other unsavory dealers to profit from, and still have a stake in, the MJ use. Legalizing the growing of 10 or 20 plants for individuals in the home is what will put the hurt on the cartels.
Fantastic! It seems as though a lot of state democratic parties are coming around – I wonder if there is some mandate behind the scenes to drive the ballot question appearing this year?!?
In any case its good news. I think everything they had to say rings true – thats 12 billion toward paying off national debt, not to mention what they would reap in taxes.
I hope the federal gov moves to legalize its a common sense smart move for the people and for the national budget.
Reminded me of
“So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark—that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.”
? Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream very poetic ending wonderful article
I’ve been to 3 state conventions in Texas as a Democratic delegate. This is not that unusual, there are many liberal thinking stances by the party. Get involved in your state and you can make a difference.
Yes! This is a good start for TX Dems. I invite them to google ‘Talking Points for the Peloton’. There they can learn how to help TX farmers even more by demanding this simple definition of marijuana which actually shows respect for our Constitution.
16. The term ‘marijuana’ means all parts
of the smoke produced by the combustion
of the plant Cannabis sativa L.
As prohibition fails and the democrats and the republicans do nothing but try to put those “bricks” back together with broken mortar….tell me a reason why I shouldnt vote for Gary Johnson…he may not win but it shows Im not willing to vote for the lesser of two evils either…
To Jordan:
Decriminalizing cannabis would not make it easier for cartels/gangs to operate their drug dealing. They would be put out of business overnight, literally! Look at Al Capone. He was an “alcohol dealer” when alcohol was illegal. Do you see any alcohol dealers standing on the street corner slangin’ shots of whisky? Of course not. If you can buy something at a store then “dealers” would never be able to compete. The only reason people tolerate “dealers” is because it’s their only option.
Interesting article, until I got to the part about highly respected Governor Cuomo and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. That rediculous statement negates any credability that the author might have had.
Texas, Wow! Reschedule marijuana on a federal level and be done with all the small talk, the big green elephant has spoken, come on government you need our votes!
OMG!!! Such exciting and wonderful news! I’m a Texan and a voter. never saw this coming. 🙂
Now if we can get the rest of the bible belt to follow suit. Go job N.C. for decriminalization in your state.
If u live in Texas u have to vote strait ticket for ( DEM ) If u are not register to vote go now and register to vote. Make the media talk about this.
I hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but claygooding is right. This is a historically Republican state and it just seems like a political move to sway more people to vote Democrat. I can’t help but think that will just prompt a Republican backlash in favor of an opposing stance.
THE SOUTH SHALL RISE AGAIN!
Prohibition is actually an authoritarian War On The Economy, Constitution and All Civic Institutions of our once great nation.
It’s all about market and cost/benefit analysis. Whether any particular drug is good, bad, or otherwise is irrelevant – as long as there is demand for any mind altering substance there WILL be supply; THE END! The only affect prohibiting it has is to drive the price up while increasing the costs and profits – and where there is illegal profit to be made criminals and terrorists thrive.
The cost of criminalizing citizens who are using substances similar but no more harmful than those that are perfectly legal – like alcohol and tobacco, is not only hypocritical and futile, but also simply not worth the incredible suffering and damage it causes.
This news is no news, everyone in Texas knows this is a Republican state, with a Repubican Governer, and a Republican Congress. Since Ann Richards screwed our state with the loto lies, we have avoided allowing Democrats in office, and unless something drastic happens in the very near future, I don’t see it changing. Texas does not want more state government at the expence of the private sector, Which the Democrats seem to be all about, But I personally do not think the Republicans we have elected are doing all they can to better our state. What we need is more state and federal congressmen holding office that are not democrats or republicans. It is time to clean house, and elect people that will do what the people want, and not what is best for themselves.
Finally they have realized if we legalize and cultivate it ourselves we will eventually put the cartel out of business as far as weed goes and our officials can focus on life altering drugs like heroin, meth, crack,speed,oh yea and prescription drug abuse.
I’m gonna puff anyways, they might as well bank on it. Aheh heh… I just want my high friends to quit being so fucking paranoid, imagine smoking and never worrying about it.
i have to agree with yall especially poop smalltown
While this is wonderful news for Texas, please remember that this is at the state level, and has nothing to do with Obama the Liar.
A vote for state Democrats does not require a vote for Obama. Please remember the lies he has told and the way he has devastated this country, and vote your conscience.
If you want it over, then you’ve got to decide that it’s OVER.
The longer you keep playing the game of “Let’s rename prohibition and let people THINK that what we’re doing it making it ‘legal’ for everyone”, then the longer people will keep getting surprised that what they were told they were getting is NOT what they got!
Another MAJOR problem is that too many people are so willing to “pick a side” without ever once even considering actually READING THE BILL they are voting on! In effect, you’ve got an entire country full of CONGRESSMEN!
The Fallacy of the “Legalize & Tax Cannabis” Initiatives
http://overgrow.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-fallacy-of-the-legalize-and-tax-cannabis-initiatives
Distill it down to the roots of the problem, and the solution to prohibition is down to only THREE WORDS:
1) DEschedule.
2) Repeal.
3) DONE!
No thousand-word bills. No new taxes. No new agencies. No new “government employees.” No new infringiments on yor rights. No new “non-violent crimes on paper.” No new non-violent “criminals” in prison.
Oh yeah…and 20+ BILLION of YOUR MONEY no longer wasted ANNUALLY.
Or you can keep playing “What do we rename prohibition THIS WEEK?” Your choice…
Why is It always out of our hands, always just out of reach, always at the crest but never crashing down?
Voting nowadays just seems to be a complex like button on the governments Facebook page, and the government just keeps updating its status, and politicians keep commenting on the subject status just to get likes themselves. Making it just as pointless as a Facebook arguement.
Petition, argue, comment, post it’s all a pointless loop. The government is going to do what it wants regardless. And yes the comment is hypocritical like most, but you know it’s true.
Endorsing is not enacting because both, New York and Chicago killed proposals to lessen the penalties against possession of marijuana .
Back to the drawing board…..
[Paul Armentano responds: The Chicago legislation today was approved 13 to 1 in committee. The full council votes on it this Wednesday, June 27.]
dude… some of you guys are idiots… “Texas is a historically Republican State…”
LOL you must not know history past the last 15 years or so…
If the republican party knows what’s in its best interest it will adopt a similar policy within the next few years.
Dr. Ron Paul is a Republican and has said he will end prohibition all together… They do not plan to do anything against Obama and Obama says no… Thinking about it is not a yes
And he Is a Texas congressman from lake Jackson tx … Join us at the Republican national convention in Tampa, Fl.
Finally our generation is going to do something to end prohibition of marijuana. I saw my dad die of alcoholism and if he had been using marijuana instead he probably still be alive. I have always thought it was ridicilous to throw someone in jail for a weed. Now’s its time to let us choose between alcohol and marijuana. I havent had a drink in over twelve years and dont ever plan to. The drug companies and alcohol companies are shivering in their shoes as people will wisen up and realize that weed is less harmful to the body than drugs or alcohol.
While Iwas trying to do without cannabis, to comply with the laws—I turned to alcohol for my recreational buzz. But it’s not the same, and alcohol caused a lot of problems in my life until I finally got wise and went back to pot. Since that time I started and finished a college vocational course, and increased my income by 3 fold. I’ve felt much better and have been driving sober ever since. People used to comment on my drinking but now nobody says anything about my sobriety anymore.
http://www.change.org/petitions/government-of-texas-legalize-marijuana
Marijuana is bad and bad for you. Anyone who smokes and or eats this mistakenly pleasant drug will surely pay in the long run. The youth of America is getting high leading them to be lazy, good for nothing assholes. Kids now a days knocking over trash cans and throwing their bubble gum wherever they please. Trashcans Dammit! Leaving them on the curb and the garbage man just leaves them in the middle of the street. Put that shit back where you found it! Don’t smoke pot!!!!
Who is the idiot who wrote this stupid shit? Blaming marijuana for kids knocking over trash cans? I hope no one is stupid enough to believe this shit. I smoke marijuana just about every day and when I was a rambunctious kid I knocked over a few trash cans but did not smoke pot back then so that blows your theory you retarded son of a bitch.
Texas has NOT always been a Republican state…who’s history are you reading… “things haven’t always been so great for Texas Republicans. For over one hundred years, the Republican Party was not a viable force in Texas politics. We were the second party in a one-party state. During that time, the GOP failed to win a single statewide race and controlled only a handful of seats in the Legislature”
Marijuana is no different than liquor and it is legal. People get behind the wheel and kill others all the time. I believe it should be legal. If not make it illegal for liqour.
I received a night in jail and $1000 bond for possession. The others there had DUI’s and public intoxication and all had drastically cheaper bonds than me. A lone kid who just got broken up with, I just wanted to smoke a bowl and watch some anime but yet got snitched on and fucked over. I will fight for dank until it is legal and able to help every citizen blind to its positive effects.
Consider these financial pro’s if weed was as legal like alcohol in Texas. 1.Mexican drug smugglers wouldn’t have a reason to smuggle weed across the boarder, slowing down a great amount of american currency that gets sent to Mexico. 2. The economical change from black market to taxation would revert currency into the system for more state wide funding. 3. Street value would decrease to acual value, puting that left over currency into circulation, doing good for Texas businesses. 4. The taxes spent on enforcing the current laws could be used for more state wide funding.
marijuana needs to be legal for so many reasons..tx needs to jump on that cashcow and giv the people what the people want..just show us where to vote!
Legalizing Marijuana is Having the game played on our field on our terms. Reduction in border patrol load, economic benefit, cripleing the drug lords a little and reuction in crimes and prison load. More to gain than loose. The controlled farmer.
Well I think if it was llegalized maybe the crime rate will massively go down eventually all drugdealers,gang problems
or activities will also die with all else..hell i puff on this stuff
it keep me from pulling out the last strands of my hair out of my head!!!
I thank it should be easy to make legal because you never heard of somebody smoking 12 joints and going down the road killing somebody and we all seen it happen by drinking 12 beers and far is Mexico does anybody bringing marijuana from Mexico to the United States should be charged with trafficking
Have cancer. Cant get medical Marajuna here, if I do the Pain Clinic here will not treat me. Where is the compassion?
I suffer from P S D and anxiety. This is the only safe drug that helps without side effect. The side effects are many times worse than the meds. Many people just get off their meds and get in serious trouble. Sad this happens because of taxing.
Our family drove out of Texas a year ago,and moved to WA state, because we were fed up with the state being 20-30 years behind the times. It will take another 20 years for Texas to maybe legalize marijuana. That’s too bad, because they could make a hell of a lot of money on growing marijuana -(Green Gold) just like their Black Gold-oil, and stop drug cartels in the meantime from profiting from pot. Here in WA state, you can get a medical marijuana license for $125-215 for a year. Then smoke or eat your heart away, and grow up to 15 plants for your meds.
USA an the land of the free istituto not so free when other states can do something an others cant i smoke weed everyday an i love it
The main problem in Texas is State Congressman Lamar Smith.
He sits as leader of the State Judiciary Committee, and he will not allow any bills that have been introduced to decriminalize marijuana out of committee for a floor vote.
Everyone needs to write and call him without ceasing. It is an absolute travesty that one man can stand in the way of marijuana law reform in the Great State of Texas!
laws these days aren’t really laws, just paperwork to get around.
I remember being a kid and all the anti marijuana ads where was the proof then when they made it illegal. the only reason they did was to get a bunch of hippies off the white house lawn. lets be REAL.
im begining to thank the only real humane beings are the native americans.white people are religous snobs forcing there bull on everybody else cant we all be free,let us grow
I don’t understand why people keep saying Texas is “historically Republican.” Texas has had only 5 Republican governors in its history and 39 Democrat governors. Texas is, overall, an historically Democrat state. It’s just that we’ve been inundated lately with right wing nut-jobs that win elections with their fake Christian affiliation.—Bush, Perry, and Clements—We can take it back
I am disabled from old injuries and have had over 20 surgeries in last 40 years, I have been on morphine pain killers for about 20 years for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and other injuries. My pain doctors are more concerned with their medical liscenses than with their patients, as if you test positive for pot, they will not prescribe for you. I am in so much pain, I get prescription morphine, but cannot use pot which is so much less dangerous. If I could smoke, I could reduce the amount of Morphine, but not in the great state of Texas, as all the so called pain specialests are afraid of losing their liscenses if they prescribe to anyone that smokes. Any lawyers out there who would like to sue the state to help people like me?? I can’t wait 20 years, need help now. If so post here and I will contact you. !!