Nationally:
FEDERAL REFORM UPDATE: Congressman Steve Stockman of TEXAS has signed onto The Respect State Marijuana Laws Act as a co-sponsor, bringing the total co-sponsors up to 19! Click here to easily contact your elected officials and urge them to join Rep. Stockman and others in respecting state marijuana laws! TEXANS: Consider contacting Rep. Stockman and thanking him for stepping up and supporting this bill and encourage him to bring his other Texas colleagues on board.
The US Supreme Court Monday declined to hear an appeal from medical marijuana advocacy groups who had challenged the DEA’s decision to maintain marijuana’s status as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, the category reserved for the most dangerous substances. Read more here.
The most recent Gallup Poll shows an all time high for the percentage of Americans that support cannabis re-legalization. A whopping 58%! That is a surge of 10 points in just the last year! Click here to see the graph on Americans’ changing view of Legalization.
Locally:
A solid majority of Texas voters support ending marijuana prohibition! A Public Policy Polling survey released in September shows 58% of votes polled support legalizing marijuana and regulating it like alcohol, 58% support legalizing medical marijuana, and 61% support decriminalizing marijuana possession. View the full results here and share this exciting news with everyone you know in Texas! With a previous poll from Scripps and Howard in 2004 showing that 76% of Texans support medical cannabis, we truly feel that our goal of having meaningful legislation passed in Texas by 2017 is attainable!Learn more about our Lobby Campaign here.
Texas NORML held its Annual Members’ Mixer this past weekend and it was a blast! Zilker Clubhouse was a lovely backdrop for such a good time! We enjoyed live entertainment by the Paper Moon Shiners and phenomenal Mediterranean style food by Hot Mama’s featuring Ararat’s. Check out the pictures from the event and our Costume Contest Winners! And a HUGE thank you to our gracious sponsors ~ The Silverman Law Group, The DWI Dude (Jamie Balagia) and the Law Office of Charlie Roadman. Make sure you make our next Members’ Mixer!
Events:
Texas NORML’s 8th Annual 6th Street Smokeout – Friday, November 1st 8pm – Flamingo Cantina, 515 East 6th Street, Austin. This year’s event will feature an eclectic mix of music brought to you by “The Worst Bluegrass Band in Town” Clyde and Clem’s Whiskey Business, Hometown hip-hop heroes the Subkulture Patriots and “Austin’s Godfathers of Reggae,” The Mau Mau Chaplains. Tickets are $5 for Texas NORML Members and $10 for non members. The Outlaw Montgomery Wayne will join us along with some very smokin’ funny ladies Jami Shofner, Kate Loice, Kat Razminski and Lashonda Lester. Winston’s Kitchen will be selling Jerk Chicken and Veggie wraps so come hungry and be prepared for a insanely good time with Texas NORML! Click here for more information on this event. Please share this event and invite your friends!
Texas NORML Open Monthly Meeting – FREE – Wednesday, November 6th 8pm – Flamingo Cantina, 515 East 6th Street, Austin. We will be discussing what has been going on in Cannabis News around the nation, enjoying some stand up comedy and live reggae from the Mau Mau Chaplains. ASL interpreters will be provided. Click here for more information on the meeting. Please make sure to invite and share the Open Meeting with your friends and family. Did you miss last month’s meeting at Flamingo?Click here to view pictures from the October Open Meeting. Click here to watch the video from the October Meeting.
Students for Liberty Austin Regional Conference – FREE – Saturday, November 9th 9am-8pm – AT&T Conference Center, 1900 University Avenue, Austin. Texas NORML will be hosting a table at this event. This day-long event will feature tremendous speakers, panels, and breakout sessions on the ideas behind a free society and the actions necessary to implement them. In addition, three free meals and drinks at our evening social are included with your FREE registration. Click here to view the site and register.
Race for the Cure – Sunday, November 10th 7am – 16th Street and Congress, Austin. Texas NORML’s athletic group, Team Hope through Cannabis (THC), will once again participate in the Austin Komen Race for the Cure event. Please join us in spreading awareness of and support for marijuana policy reform, as well as raising money to fight breast cancer. This race is a Texas NORML and THC tradition! Wear your THC or Texas NORML shirts! (Available here!). We would greatly appreciate your participation in this event. Please register today and bring your friends and family! Click here for instructions on how to join our team for the race.
Stop Child Parent Separations (Stop CPS) Candlelight Vigil – FREE – Tuesday, November 12th 5pm – 1100 Congress Ave., Austin. Texas NORML, the NORML Women’s Alliance, Moms for Marijuana International’s Chapters and other pro-Cannabis activist groups are coordinating an International Call to Action to rally the public in support of Cannabis consuming parents and to start challenging CPS Marijuana policies nationwide! We will meet on the Southwest lawn in front of the statue of the cowboy on horseback. Jim Black, a former CPS Investigator and Founder of Angel Eyes over Texas will be speaking about his experiences as an investigator and child advocate. Click here for more information.
Texas NORML’s Strategy Meeting – FREE -Wednesday, November 20th 6:30-8pm – Location TBD in NW Austin/Cedar Park area. Are you interested in meeting with Texas NORML representatives and other supporters to have a group discussion and make plans for how we can and WILL change laws in Texas? Please meet me there and let’s hash it out! We are changing locations every month! Click here to follow the event and be updated on the location.
Family Picnic and Tour of the Capitol – FREE – Saturday, November 23rd Noon-3pm – 1100 Congress Ave., Austin. Texas NORML and the NORML Women’s Alliance invite you to join us for a picnic on the Southwest Capitol lawn (near the bronze statue of the cowboy on a horse). We will have some discussion of changing laws in Texas, listen to some music on a PA we will provide, get to know each other and have some lunch before getting familiar with navigating our way inside the Capitol. We have until 2015 to get ready for the next legislative session and being familiar and comfortable wandering the halls of your State Capitol will play a big part in our success! We will respectfully come together to enjoy a beautiful day on the Capitol grounds and bring attention to the growing number of responsible adults who support marijuana law reform for many logical and sound reasons. Click here for more information on this event.
P.A.C.T Empowerment Meeting – Thursday, December 12th 4-7pm – Genuine Joe’s Coffee, 2001 W. Anderson Ln., Austin. Are you a Cannabis Patient looking for a safe place to interact with other patients, share your experiences, draw empowerment, and learn the skills you will need for bringing Medical Cannabis to Texas? Come to the first ever meeting! Click here to join P.A.C.T.
Are you interested in getting involved in starting a NORML chapter here in Texas? We have started Facebook groups to connect people in the Rio Grande Valley,Bryan/College Station, Abilene and Corpus Christi areas. Please join the groups to help spread the word! You can also find other chapters already working in Texas by clicking here.
Thank you for your support, please let us know if you have any questions.