Support action needed on Texas HB164 (medmj)

Hey all you Texas NORML supporters!

We have an exciting update on HB 164, the medical marijuana bill currently working its way through the Texas Legislature!  And, we have special requests for taking action on this issue.

On February 12, 2009, HB 164 was officially assigned to the Public Health Committee in the Texas House of Representatives. The most exciting part of this committee assignment is that the bill’s author, Rep. Elliott Naishtat (Austin), has been assigned to be Vice Chair of the committee! Also, HB 164 has picked up a co-author, Rep. Lon Burnam (Ft. Worth).

If you, or someone you know, uses marijuana for a serious medical condition, and are willing to submit testimony to the Public Health Committee, please contact us as soon as possible (josh@texasnorml.org, 512-585-3846) so that we can coordinate an effective lobbying effort for HB 164.

Below is a list of the members of the Public Health Committee, with areas they represent and links to contact them. If you need any help composing a letter of correspondence to your representative, please do not hesitate to contact us.

House Committee on Public Health – Phone: (512) 463-0806

Committee Chair: Rep. Lois W. Kolkhorst, Dist. 13 (Brenham/Huntsville) 
*IF YOU, OR SOMONE YOU KNOW, LIVE IN REP. KOLKHORST’S DISTRICT, WE NEED YOU TO CONTACT HER AND RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT HB 164 BE GIVEN A HEARING.*

Vice Chair: Rep. Elliott Naishtat, Dist. 49 (Austin)

Committee Members:
*IF YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, LIVE IN ANY OF THESE REPRESENTATIVES’ DISTRICTS, PLEASE CONTACT THEM AND RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THEY SUPPORT, AND VOTE FOR, HB 164.*

Rep. Garnet Coleman, Dist. 147 (SW Houston/Harris County)

Rep. John E. Davis, Dist. 129 (S/SE Harris County/Pasadena)

Rep. Veronica Gonzales, Dist. 41 (McAllen/Palmhurst)

Rep. Chuck Hopson, Dist. 11 (Jacksonville/Crockett/Henderson/Carthage)

Rep. Susan King, Dist. 71 (Abilene/Sweetwater)

Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, Dist. 89 (Rockwall/Farmersville/Melissa)

Rep. Jim McReynolds, Dist. 12 (Lufkin/Coldspring/Woodville)

Rep. Vicki Truitt, Dist. 98 (Southlake/Ft. Worth/Grapevine)

Rep. John Zerwas, Dist. 28 (Simonton/Hempstead/El Campo/Wharton)

Even if you do not live in one of these districts, you can still contact members of the Public Health Committee to ask for their support on this issue.  You can also contact your own representative to request a co-sponsor of the bill.  Also, it would be very helpful for everyone to contact their State Senator and request that a similar bill be introduced in the Senate.

To find out who your State Representatives and Senators are, go here.  Enter your address in the “Who Represents Me?” box at the bottom right side of the page.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.  Thank you for taking action on this bill!

Cannabem Liberemus!

Josh Schimberg
Director, Texas NORML
josh@texasnorml.org
512-585-3846
http://www.texasnorml.org
http://www.myspace.com/texasnorml