Tag Archives: marijuana

There’s a raft of pro-pot bills that have been filed so far

Posted on November 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

And one formidable obstacle to them all, in the form of Lt. Gov. Dan “One Million Dollars!” Patrick. Texas lawmakers set a record with over 60 marijuana-related bills in 2019 — and this year, they’ve already introduced 11 measures that … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Looking ahead to 2022

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing with the brain dumps, which are my post-election tradition. This is a collection of thoughts about the next big election, in 2022. As I said earlier, I take no position on the question of what effect the disparity in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020, Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Hemp lawsuit

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. New rules prohibiting the retail sale and distribution of “smokable” hemp products are unconstitutional, companies argue in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Travis County. When Texas legalized hemp last year, the legislation explicitly outlawed manufacturing … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Let’s talk “meaningful reform”

Posted on June 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Chief Acevedo brought it up, so let’s go there. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo’s voice cracked several times and his eyes welled as he railed against the death of George Floyd beneath a policeman’s knee and implored protesters to demonstrate … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

It’s even harder to prosecute pot cases now

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Such a shame. What if lawmakers writing one of the most consequential laws to come out of last year’s legislative session, legalizing hemp in Texas, forgot to include a small, but crucial detail that could get your marijuana possession charges … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s even harder to prosecute pot cases now

The Observer overviews the DA primary

Posted on February 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve had a chance to listen to my interviews with DA candidates, now read this story for more on this important primary. When Kim Ogg first ran for Harris County district attorney, she had a simple pitch for criminal justice … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Observer overviews the DA primary

Marijuana arrests stay down

Posted on January 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We really should view this as the new normal, and not a problem to be “fixed”. It’s been more than six months since Texas lawmakers legalized hemp and unintentionally disrupted marijuana prosecution across the state. Since then, the number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Did the Lege sort of decriminalize marijuana?

Posted on July 5, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Well, sort of. Because of a new state law, prosecutors across Texas have dropped hundreds of low-level marijuana charges and have indicated they won’t pursue new ones without further testing. But the law didn’t decriminalize small amounts of marijuana for … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Did the Lege sort of decriminalize marijuana?

Senate approves one medical marijuana bill

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

A pleasant surprise. Marijuana advocates were handed an unlikely victory Wednesday after the Texas Senate advanced a bill greatly expanding the list of debilitating medical conditions that can legally be treated by cannabis oil in the state. Although the upper … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

House passes two bills to expand medical marijuana use

Posted on May 9, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Bill Number One: The Texas House on Monday advanced a bill that would expand the list of debilitating conditions that allow Texans to legally use medical cannabis. House Bill 1365 would add Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s disease, muscular dystrophy, post-traumatic stress disorder, … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

House votes to ease up a bit on pot

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a small step forward, but it’s a step forward. After a brief discussion, the Texas House gave preliminary approval Monday to a bill that would reduce the penalties for low-level possession of marijuana — a move lauded as a … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Senior stoners

Posted on April 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Makes a lot of sense, really. Most states now have legal medical marijuana, and 10 of them, including California, allow anyone 21 or older to use pot recreationally. The federal government still outlaws the drug even as acceptance increases. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Marijuana diversions

Posted on April 2, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Good progress so far. What can we do to build on it? The Harris County District Attorney’s Office estimated on Friday that it’s saved $35 million and arrested 14,000 fewer people since the start of a program to divert low-level … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How legal pot affects Texas

Posted on January 5, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It has many effects. In just two weeks in October, the legal landscape for marijuana use in North America changed dramatically. First, Canada opened sales of legalized pot for recreational use, and then Mexico’s high court delivered a definitive ruling … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, That's our Lege, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

No cannabis for you

Posted on December 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck getting your hands on medical marijuana in Texas. It’s been about a year since the first legally grown marijuana plants were harvested in Texas for their medicinal oils. But since then, fewer than 600 patients have seen any … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on No cannabis for you

It’s bill-filing season

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here are some highlights from Day One: House Bill 49, by Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, would get rid of daylight saving time in Texas. Some lawmakers have tried to do this in past sessions. House Bill 63, by Rep. … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Have a Coke and a toke

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Dude. Aurora Cannabis Inc. led pot stocks higher after Coca-Cola Co. said it’s eyeing the cannabis drinks market, becoming the latest beverage company to tap into surging demand for marijuana products as traditional sales slow. Coca-Cola says it’s monitoring the … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Have a Coke and a toke

Pot versus Pete

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I love this story. Marijuana reform activists have created a new super PAC aimed exclusively at defeating Texas Republican Rep. Pete Sessions, the House Rules Committee chairman who has blocked cannabis reform legislation from reaching the House floor. Marijuana Policy … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Beto and Ted

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

¡Dale! U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, has invited U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to participate in six debates with O’Rourke across Texas, two of them in Spanish, during their U.S. Senate race. O’Rourke campaign manager Jody Casey made the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Medical marijuana is now available in Texas

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

To a very limited number of people, and only under a very strict set of circumstances. Modern medicine has helped Laura Campbell’s 27-year-old daughter, Sierra, fight off many of her persistent seizures. At her peak, Sierra suffered from more than … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A little concern trolling from the WSJ

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This is a story that tries to stir up concerns about all those Democratic Congressional candidates spending money and energy running against each other in the primaries. I flagged it mostly because of the CD07 content at the end. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A little concern trolling from the WSJ

More pre-trial diversion

Posted on October 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

DA Kim Ogg moves forward on more campaign promises. During a press conference Tuesday, Ogg laid out in broad strokes the policy recommendations written by the committees and emphasized that she is seeking participation from experts and Houston’s leaders. “We … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

More medical marijuana requested

Posted on September 2, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This was a pre-Harvey story. Medical cannabis companies and investors are calling on Gov. Greg Abbott’s office and the Department of Public Safety to approve more dispensary licenses beyond the three given provisional approval in May. In a pair of … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on More medical marijuana requested

The Observer talks to Kim Ogg

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A good read: You decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Jeff Sessions has signaled that he seeks to ramp up the war on drugs. What power does the federal government hold over your policy decisions? I enjoy total … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Observer talks to Kim Ogg

Where are the marijuana bills?

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

There have been no hearings on two bills to expand the usage of medical marijuana in Texas. [Dr. Robert S.] Marks was among about two dozen advocates for so-called medical marijuana, including health-care professionals and patients, who gathered at the … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Marijuana decriminalization bill passes House committee

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Progress. The House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee advanced a marijuana decriminalization bill on Monday with the help of two Republicans. With a 4–2 vote, the committee approved House Bill 81, authored by Chair Joe Moody, D-El Paso, at Monday’s hearing. Under … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

On pot and potties

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Two more poll results to note. Opposition to legal marijuana is dropping in Texas, with fewer than one in five respondents to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll saying they are against legalization in any form. Support for marijuana … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Ogg launches her pot prosecution reform program

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve been waiting for this. The Harris County district attorney’s plan to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana drew reactions swift and strong Thursday from both sides of the debate. District Attorney Kim Ogg made the announced Thursday backed by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Kim Ogg’s swearing in

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

New DA Kim Ogg took her oath of office at an earlier time than the other Democratic elected officials, then had a more celebratory followup event afterward. Ogg, who defeated incumbent Republican Devon Anderson in November, was first sworn into … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Kim Ogg’s swearing in

Pot bills get their own post

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

They got their own story in the Trib, so why not their own post. Texas lawmakers across the state say they want leniency in how the state prosecutes marijuana crimes. In an interview with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith Monday, … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Checking in with Kim Ogg

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That’s District Attorney-elect Kim Ogg now. Kim Ogg, still hoarse from shouting over the jubilant victory party crowd after winning her race for Harris County District Attorney, said Wednesday that her first order of business would be to evaluate and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Reducing pot prosecutions one county at a time

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Some Texas cities are taking direct action to dial back the drug wars and reduce their jail population. As lawmakers have wrestled in recent years with easing restrictions on marijuana use – an issue they likely will confront again when … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Here come the cannabis growers

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

For medicinal purposes only. About 60 miles north of Dallas, amid green fields in the town of Gunter, population 1,486, Texas Cannabis CEO Patrick Moran has optioned to buy a former cotton gin, where he plans to grow the Cannabis … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

It’s not easy going green

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

And by “going green” I mean legalizing pot, at least in Texas. Advocacy groups and lawmakers say marijuana policy reform in Texas could be the fiscally responsible thing to do in light of the state’s decreasing oil and gas revenues. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments