It’s only February and 2013 is turning out to be a fast moving and meaningful year for marijuana law reform in Texas! As many of you know, Texas must change marijuana laws on a state level, and the only way to do that is through our elected officials (Representatives and Senators) introducing and/or supporting a marijuana law reform bill. And the only way they will do that is if YOU let them know it’s what YOU want. Our state legislature only meets every two years for less than 6 months! We have to act now! Texas does not have voter initiatives like California, Colorado, Washington and other fortunate states, so if you hope to influence change in Texas, you MUST be in contact with your legislators! Look up who represents you and save their contact information on your phone: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx.
Two FREE Events Hosted By Texas NORML!
Come out, get involved, meet like-minded people in a supportive environment, and be the one to help others step up too! If you cannot make it PLEASE share this with your friends and family who may want to come!!
Pass the Activism to the Left Hand Side – Annual Activist Day
Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Austin Public Library, Windsor branch – 5833 Westminster Drive, Austin, TX 78723
Join the Facebook event – https://www.facebook.com/events/351948264913057/?fref=ts
Meet the Board of Directors, discuss the legislative session, our efforts, and how to participate directly in getting the laws changed. Learn more about Texas NORML’s focus on our athletic group, patients’ issues, legal concerns, veterans’ issues, political efforts, involving more women in the movement, and everything else we’ve been up to lately. We will present and discuss our efforts this legislative session and how each person can help get the decrim and medical bills passed THIS YEAR. Board members talk with attendees about their specific areas of focus and answer questions at separate tables in a casual environment. We want to have one-on-one conversations and group discussions with you, as well as introduce you to (or tell you more about) who we are and what we’re working on individually and as a group. We’ll go over the Texas Legislature’s website and how to best use the tools provided there. We’ll also discuss the steps and procedure of how to change the laws in Texas, and plan our lobby day for the following Tuesday… read on for those details and more on the bills we’re supporting!
Texas NORML LOBBY DAY! Legislators’ Education Package Follow Up
When: Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 (9am-3:30pm, lunch 11:30-12:30)
Where: Texas State Capitol – 112 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Meeting Room E2.028 (AKA Extension Second Floor) and (Lunch-Capitol Grill E1.002)
Join the Facebook event – https://www.facebook.com/events/525649284141462/
This will be our big day to follow up on the Legislative Education Packages and redeliver B&W copies for EMPHASIS and discussion. Enter from the North side of the building and the elevators will take you right to floor E2 (AKA Extension Second Floor.) Then head North to the third large meeting room on your right, E2.028. **Our expected attendance outgrew the library space we had planned to meet in!**
Capitol Map of E2 (AKA Extension Second Floor) where we’ll meet in the morning: http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/SPB/Plan/FloorPlan/pdf/GuideExtension2.PDF
Link to All Floors of Capitol (we’ll have these pre-printed in your Lobby Day Package as well): http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/SPB/Plan/FloorPlan/FlorPlan.htm
We’ll meet up at 9am to plan our morning, answer any questions, and then split out in small groups to visit legislators from 9:30-11:30. Your group will be led by a board member or volunteer familiar with the Capitol and the bills, so you are in good hands! The two marijuana law reform bills have been assigned to committees, so we’ll make sure to visit those members specifically and ask for their support.
We’ll take a lunch break at 11:30-12:30 (or so), at the Capitol Grill (located within the Capitol in E1.002) and hit the halls again to be sure we have visited all committee members, learned our way around the Capitol, and become comfortable asking for change for the success and safety of Texas. Please get yourself and at least 2 of your friends there if you want to actually influence change in Texas. We’ll end this very first Texas NORML lobby day with a group photo on the North Steps of the Capitol!
Parking: HTTP://WWW.TSPB.STATE.TX.US/SPB/PLAN/PARKING.HTM
(Free for the first 2 hours, then $2/hr and $8 for all day.)
Capitol Map of E2 (AKA Extension Second Floor): http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/SPB/Plan/FloorPlan/pdf/GuideExtension2.PDF
We hope to see you ALL very soon!