Limited medical marijuana bill clears Texas Legislature

[TexasTowelie]

AUSTIN — The Texas House gave final approval Tuesday to a limited medical marijuana bill that would give epilepsy patients access to trace amounts of cannabis oil. The next stop is Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk, marking a milestone that marijuana-reform advocates say is nothing short of historic in Texas.

The Republican hasn’t said whether he will sign one of the most talked-about measures in his first legislative session as governor. Here’s a closer look at the plan:

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WHAT DOES IT DO?

The bill allows patients with intractable epilepsy, whose seizures are not controlled by usual treatments, to receive trace amounts of a marijuana plant extract to help treat their seizures. The maximum legal dosage would be so low that it wouldn’t produce the high associated with other parts of marijuana.

The oil could only be obtained with a prescription and would remain off-limits to patients with other medical conditions.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20150519-limited-medical-marijuana-bill-clears-texas-legislature.ece

Cross-posted in the Cannabis Group.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. I didnt know your legislature is part time.

I learned about it today, that they only meet for 4 months every two years or something like that?

Their hatred for good government is well known, but I had no idea they were this backwards and ignorant.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Yes.

The legislative session runs 140 days in odd-numbered years. The governor has the authority to call 30 day special sessions on specific issues and only those issues can be discussed during the special sessions.

Legislators are paid $600/month (all 24 months) and $190/day per diem when the Legislature is in session. What makes the job lucrative is that the retirement pensions are based upon the salary of state judges and/or the possibility of becoming a lobbyist after they leave the job.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

3. And there is no way a common person could serve, how could they leave their jobs for

almost 5 months for this minimal pay?

Couldn't, so only rich people can serve sounds like to me

[TexasTowelie]

4. You are correct.

The guaranteed pay is $33,800 in odd-numbered years and $7,200 in even-numbered years. I believe that there have been special sessions for about the last two decades, but considering the high cost of living in Austin it would be very difficult to survive on what averages out to about $23,000/year. The only good thing is that the organizations that lobby (I used to be an officer in the Texas Public Employees Association) do hold a lot of dinner functions and conventions so the grocery bill gets cut down a bit.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

5. Jesus, it is infuriating to think this is where W comes from.

A system that is practically dysfunctional, hating government.

Then he pretends to be the average guy and all that

[TexasTowelie]

6. Well, he is a 'C' student after all.

I guess that makes him average.