Marijuana Decriminalization Makes It Onto Texas Democratic Platform

[Gothmog]

Don Bankston from my county got this added to the Texas Democratic Party Platform http://thinkprogress.org/culture/2012/06/18/501639/marijuana-decriminalization-makes-it-onto-texas-democratic-platform/

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 it’s 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 Democratic Party has a very progressive party platform

[sonias]

1. Glad to see it

Another progressive idea from the Ds.


The chance of it ever being implemented in Texas under republican rule however - slim to none. Thanks to the other side who continues to maintain that all drugs are bad - well except for those little blue pills they use all the time.

[sadbear]

2. Just another step making it easier to tell the difference

between Democrats and republicans in the state of Texas.

[onestepforward]

3. Awesome! n/t

[onestepforward]

4. OMG! Lawrence O'Donnell covered this tonight on his show!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45755883/vp/47884103#47884103

[Gothmog]

5. WOW

I just forwarded this to Don Bankston

[Gothmog]

6. Juanita Jean is really happy with this press coverage

Don Bankston (Juanita Jean's husband) was responsible for getting this added to the Texas Democratic Party Platform http://juanitajean.com/2012/06/19/listen-up/

[onestepforward]

7. That's great!

When I was watching this last night, Lawrence kept throwing out hints and the more he threw out, I knew he was talking about Texas Democrats, then he confirmed it.

I am so proud of Don Bankston and Texas Democrats!

[TexasTowelie]

8. How could I not respond with some Towelie soundbites?

[font color=green]What? You sure?[/font]

[font color=green]Alright, I have no idea what's going on.[/font]

[font color=green]It's a long way away[/font] for this to occur, but I must applaud the TDP for adding it to the platform.

The only question remaining is, [font color=green]"does anyone wanna get high?"[/font]

[Gothmog]

9. E-mail from Chairman Hinojosa

I just received a nice e-mail from Chairman Hinojosa on the party platform

During our June 2012 state convention, the Texas Democratic Party adopted a platform that called for the decriminalization of marijuana. Make no mistake. This action was not meant to condone or promote drug use. It does however recognize that archaic laws that incarcerate thousands of Texans – disproportionately African Americans and Latinos - for the possession of marijuana must be changed. These arrests do nothing to promote public safety or fiscal responsibility. Instead they crowd our jails, ruin the futures of thousands of young Texans, and are a drain on our state budget. Estimates show that Texas could save more than $75 million per year by decriminalizing marijuana. Continuing to incarcerate people for possession of marijuana is a failed policy. The Texas Democratic Party understands that we need to look forward and end fiscally stupid policies that put a scarlet letter on thousands of young people.

Republicans on the other hand, are scrambling to respond. Republicans want to continue an expensive system that ruins lives.

But that should come as no surprise to us. Republicans are doing everything they can to consistently remain on the wrong side of history.

Just last week, President Obama made a historic announcement on immigration. Our President announced that young immigrants who have stayed out of trouble and studied in our schools would not be deported and be given work permits. These provisions are similar to those in the federal DREAM Act, which the TDP platform also supports. It didn’t take long for Texas Republicans to attack our President and young immigrants. Republicans like Rick Perry, David Dewhurst and Ted Cruz all said they opposed the President’s measure to help kids who grew up in this country. These Republican elected officials, who are more committed to investing in incarceration than education, are endangering our state’s economic future.

Whether it’s on women’s issues, equality, immigration, or education, Republicans are on the wrong side. The message is clear. Democrats represent progress and equality; Republicans are doing everything they can to grasp on to the past.

America is taking note of our stances. For your reference, we’ve included some of the national coverage the Texas Democratic Party has received on our plank to decriminalize marijuana.

Yours,

Gilberto Hinojosa

Chair

Texas Democratic Party



Red state tries to rewrite marijuana laws MSNBC

One political party wants to completely decriminalize marijuana. And not just allow medical marijuana, but make marijuana possession for anyone completely legal. In The Rewrite, MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell has details on a surprising step towards saner drug laws in this country coming from an unexpected place.

Texas Democratic Party Platform Endorses Decriminalization Of Marijuana Huffington Post

Texas Democrats came together at their state convention earlier this month and agreed to adopt a plank to their party platform calling for the decriminalization of marijuana.

Texas Dems push to decriminalize KXAN

The Texas Democratic party is calling for the decriminalization of marijuana, but insists that the move does not suggests it condones usage of the controlled substance.

Texas Democratic Party endorses decriminalization of marijuana FOX Austin

The Texas Democratic Party has come out in support of the decriminalization of marijuana. But republicans say this is just the democrats' way of trying to gain young voters before the upcoming election.The Texas Democratic Party's 2012 platform includes the decriminalization of marijuana and calls for "wiser law enforcement."

Texas Democrats Move To Legalize Marijuana CBS DFW

There is a movement in the Texas Democratic Party to decriminalize marijuana. The move has already happened in other states, and the party says that it is time for it to happen in Texas as well.

Democrats push to decriminalize possession of marijuana Valley Central

Bill McMillin of Brownsville recalled Tuesday, his time as a high school student in the late 70s to early 80s. He said many laws have changed in the past 20 years, especially when it comes to the criminal punishment for possession of marijuana.

The burning marijuana question Dallas Morning News

What do the following have in common? Ron Paul; Texas Democratic Party; NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg; NY Gov. Mario Cuomo; Glenn Beck; Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee; Former federal judge/Fox News contributor Andrew Napolitano; Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel;56 percent of Americans. Answer: Decriminalization or legalization of small amounts of marijuana

[JoethePleb]

10. Update to Texas Democrats and other state Marijuana changes

more good news...
http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/12412/texas-democrats-make-issue-of-pot-but-will-obama-pass

[Gothmog]

11. Fort Bend County Demcoratic Chairman Steve Brown on the party platform

Fort Bend County Demcoratic Chairman Steve Brown has some good comments concerning tjhe party platform http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=45924

Texas Democrats recently adopted a very progressive platform that addresses critical areas of need in our state. It also gives reasonable, mature Texans an alternative to empty ideological rhetoric.

Although most headlines will center on our bold pronouncements in support of marriage equality, abolishing the death penalty and decriminalizing marijuana (and rightly so), there are a number of other policy proposals worth mentioning as well.

[TBF]

12. Steve is the reason I found out about Kesha -

I love that he is involved and speaking out. Looks to be a really good young leader in our state.