Sorry but Texas Is Not Legalizing Cannabis

NewBuzzDaily recently published a piece titled ‘Texas to Permit Medicinal and Recreational Marijuana Use!’ The article reads,”On September 29, 2014, Texas Governor Rick Perry will be signing a new bill into law, legalizing medicinal and recreational use of marijuana for adults ages 21 or older. Bill HB 2412 will go into effect January 1, 2015. Unfortunately this is far from the truth; Texas legislature doesn’t begin session until January 13.

Newbuzzdaily.com is a satirical website running articles with headlines such as, ‘Revenge: Ferguson Man Kills Innocent White Cop At Krispy Kreme!‘ and ‘Obama Administration to Forgive All Federal Student Loan Debt!!!‘ The site publishes hoax news stories to trick readers into sharing the fake information. The site also released a similar article on cannabis legalization in Georgia.

Concerning the hoax article, Snopes.com stated, “Soon afterwards links and excerpts referencing this item were being circulated via social media, with many of those who encountered it mistaking it for a genuine news article. However, Texas has no bill to legalize any form of marijuana use pending in its legislature; the last bill numbered HB 2412 presented to that body was on a completely different subject. This article was just a spoof from NewsBuzzDaily, a fake news web site whose stock in trade is publishing fantastically fictional stories.”

So unfortunately, cannabis users will not be able to enjoy cannabis as the article states, “certain sporting events, concerts and other outdoor facilities may permit the use of the drug at their discretion”.

Earlier this year, Governor Perry told CNN’s Candy Crowley that the Texas legislators has no plans to legalize cannabis, however, he is in favor of decriminalizing cannabis possession. “[T]he point is that after 40 years of the war on drugs, I can’t change what happened in the past. What I can do as the governor of the second largest state in the nation is to implement policies that start us toward a decriminalization and keeps people from going to prison and destroying their lives, and that’s what we’ve done over the last decade.” said Perry. But for now Texans can still face severe penalties for cannabis possession, such as in the case of 19 year old Jacob Lavoro who faced a life sentence for possession of pot brownies.

According to a poll conducted by The University of Texas and the Texas Tribune, 77 percent of voters in Texas believe in some form of cannabis legalization. 28% of voters approved of cannabis legalization for medical use. 49% of respondents said cannabis should be legal in some quantity, with 32% saying it should be legal in small amounts and 17% who believe it should be legal in any amount. A minority of 23% believed that cannabis should stay illegal across all situations. Although there is no Bill HB 2412, with voters more accepting attitudes of cannabis, Texas may soon see medical cannabis legislation in subsequent years.