Stoner News

Marijuana laws in Texas take another tiny, positive step for mankind

Marijuana laws are inching forward in the state of Texas.

Redheaded Blackbelt

A bill that would reduce the penalties for marijuana possession in Texas got a nudge forward after an approval on May 4 by a committee in the state House of Representatives. HB 507, authored by Rep. Joe Moody of El Paso, would make possession of up to one ounce of marijuana a civil fine of up to $250.

The bill was approved by the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. Under current Texas law, individuals who possess less than two ounces of marijuana can be arrested and given a criminal record; they face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.

"Texas cannot afford to continue criminalizing tens of thousands of citizens for marijuana possession each year," said Rep. Moody in a statement. "We need to start taking a more level-headed approach. It is neither fair nor prudent to arrest people, jail them and give them criminal records for such a low-level, non-violent offense."

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in 2012, there were 72,150 arrests or citations issued for marijuana-related offenses in Texas — 97 percent of which were for simple possession. And yet, that same year, nearly 90 percent of all burglaries, including home invasions, and 88 percent of all motor vehicle thefts went unsolved.

Ann Lee, executive director of Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition (RAMP), said that this is a change that Texans want and need.

"We hope our elected officials will do the right thing here and listen to their constituents," she said. "Our state needs to get out of the business of arresting and criminalizing people for possessing marijuana."

Lee and her husband, Bob, founded RAMP based on the belief that the prohibition of marijuana is opposed to the Republican principles of limited government, individual responsibility and personal freedom.

According to a poll conducted by the University of Texas in February 2015, 76 percent of likely voters in Texas favor reform of marijuana laws.

The Monday night vote was a second chance after three marijuana bills were voted down on May 1, including HB 507 and two others that would reduce small amounts of marijuana possession from a class B to a class C misdemeanor.

Representative Abel Herrero, chairman of the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, reconsidered and voted favorably for Moody's HB 507 on Monday, alongside Rep. Terry Canales. Yay Moody, yay Herrero, yay Canales. Voting against the bill were Plano representatives Jeff Leach and Matt Shaheen. Booo Leach, boooo Shaheen.

The measure will now advance to the House Calendars Committee, where it must quickly pass in order to be debated on the House floor. Senate Bill 1417, the companion to Moody's, has been assigned to the Criminal Justice Committee but has not come up for a hearing.

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Weekend Event Planner

These are the 11 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade

The cast of the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical

It will be a very kid/family-friendly weekend around Dallas, with four events with very different themes aimed at that demographic. Other choices include the national tour of a Broadway musical, a symphony concert, a local theater production, a show for golf lovers, two dance productions, and an Irish-themed concert.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, March 16

Broadway Dallas presents Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Moulin Rouge! The Musical features a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory, a world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. The production will run through April 2 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Brahms Symphony No. 3"
The latest concert from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will feature Brahms' Third Symphony, one which he wrote at age 50 but which looked back on his younger days. The concert, conducted by Fabio Luisi, will also include Mahler's Selections of Twelve Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn. There will be three performances through Saturday at the Meyerson Symphony Center.

Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures
In Disney on Ice's Road Trip Adventures, exciting twists and turns await as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and guests of all ages embark on an interactive and memory-rich adventure to iconic Disney destinations, including the rooftops of London with Mary Poppins and Jack and his band of dancing lamplighters; sun-soaked Motunui to help Moana restore the heart of Te Fiti; Aladdin’s princely parade filled with spectacular stunts; magical moments with Genie, and a brand-new song from Jasmine; and more. There will be performances through Sunday at American Airlines Center.

Rover Dramawerks presents Spirit Level
When famous author Jack Cameron and his wife Susie drown in a boating accident, they are required to haunt the country cottage where they lived. Then Simon and Flic, an aspiring writer and his pregnant wife, rent the cottage. When Simon has writer’s block and Flic’s monster mother comes to visit, Jack and Susie call on a Guardian Angel for assistance, with some unexpectedly wacky results. The production will run through April 1 at Cox Playhouse in Plano.

Friday, March 17

11th Annual DFW Golf Show
The DFW Golf Show is a three-day event that will feature dozens of vendors, interactive games, golf fittings, and entertainment for the whole family. Visitors will be able to see World Long Drive Champion and former UNT golfer Kyle Berkshire, US Women’s Open champion and Dallas-Fort Worth local Brittany Lang, golf comedy group Country Club Adjacent, and more. The event takes place through Sunday at Esports Stadium Arlington.

Circus Vazquez
The family-owned Circus Vazquez will brings its all-new production to Riders Field in Frisco, featuring a cast of international circus superstars under the circus’ climate-controlled blue and white tent. Ringmaster Memo Vazquez presides over the festivities, featuring clowns, jugglers, a unicyclist master, trapeze artists, dance and acrobatic performers, and more. There will be performances daily through April 3.

TITAS / Dance Unbound presents Alan Lake Factori(e)
Alan Lake has created a work poised between fable and allegory. Le cri des méduses, a polymorphic choreographic work enriched with visual art and video reinforces Alan Lake’s status as a significant Canadian artist. Starting from Théodore Géricault’s painting The Raft of the Medusa, he proposes a vision of a humanity adrift. A physical dance like a pagan ritual, jostled by images of a powerful scenography, Le cri des méduses both promises and delivers a startling artistic shock. The dance company, making its U.S. debut, will have performances on both Friday and Saturday at Moody Performance Hall.

Saturday, March 18

The Big Bounce America
Featuring the only Guinness-certified world record holder of The World’s Largest Bounce House, The Big Bounce America is the biggest touring inflatable event in the world. It includes four massive inflatable attractions: a 16,000-square-foot World’s Largest Bounce House; the newly added Sport Slam featuring a customized sports arena; the 900+ foot-llong obstacle course named The Giant; and a unique, space-themed wonderland called airSPACE. The event will be open on weekends at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie through April 2.

Brick Fest Live
Brick Fest Live features live interactive stage shows, life-size models, hands-on building activities, a chance to build a Guinness World Record mosaic, photo ops, exclusive merchandise, and more. The festival - which is not officially associated with LEGO - will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.

B. Moore Dance presents The Encore
The Encore is a collection of choreographic works created by Bridget L. Moore. Rooted in African American and global dance aesthetics, the evening consists of an artistically diverse program from the company's repertoire, including Rose Gold, which conveys the greatest gift of expression to the world, Love; Southern Recollections-Romare Bearden, inspired by the eponymous Harlem Renaissance painter; and Uncharted Territory, inspired by Moore's travels across Asia. For this event at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, audiences will see performances by the company and aspiring artists of the next generation.

Sunday, March 19

Celtic Angels Ireland in concert
Fans of Irish music, dance, and culture can expect a joyous celebration of everything Irish with Celtic Angels Ireland, joined by Celtic Knight Dancers and The Trinity Band Ensemble of Dublin. The program for the concert features a variety of Irish favorites, including “Danny Boy,” “Road to Kildare,” and “Song for Ireland,” as well as Irish takes on American favorites like “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “God Bless America,” and more. The concert will be at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Moulin Rouge! The Musical will play at the Music Hall at Fair Park through April 2.

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