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Legalizing Pot... Could It Happen In Texas?
Posted: Dec 12, 2012 9:40 PM by Melissa Schroeder - mschroeder@kristv.com
Updated: Dec 13, 2012 8:00 AM
CORPUS CHRISTI -- Last month voters approved the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in two states.
And one of the groups that pushed for that change is now lobbying Texas lawmakers to consider similar legislation here.
But, it may be a while before Texans can legally light up.
People in Washington state counted down the seconds before they could legally smoke marijuana.
It's a dream Josh Schimberg -- Executive Director of Texas Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws or NORML -- has for our state too.
He said, "We're trying to put pressure on these state legislatures to let them know that this is something that a big chunk of the electorate would like to see done."
But, one of our state leaders says he wouldn't even consider legalizing marijuana until the federal government debates the issue first.
State Representative Todd Hunter also wants to see detailed studies and committee hearings on the topic.
He said, "I think me and others would be hesitant to do anything until it's gone through the entire process. Right now my opinion is Texas would not support that."
This opinion doesn't surprise Schimberg.
He's been working several years to get Texas leaders to pass a bill to legalize medicinal marijuana only.
So far, it hasn't worked.
But, this time his organization spent more than 100 hours studying and collecting facts on marijuana.
They put all the information together in a packet to give to our state leaders.
The proposed medical marijuana legislation will be re-introduced to legislators sometime during the session that begins in January.
Schimberg believes if our leaders agree to let sick people smoke pot, one day, they'll let everyone do it.
But he says it won't happen anytime soon.
Schimberg said, "I'd say realistically speaking, at least a decade."
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