Where Medical Marijuana Is Headed

According to The Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice's article, The Use of Cannabis for Medical Purposes, "A similar study of people age 18 and older, published in the journal ‘Drug and Alcohol Dependence’, found the odds of marijuana abuse or dependence were almost twice as high in states with medical marijuana laws compared with those without such laws. However, most would argue that, in fact, such laws may create the perception that medical marijuana is safe, because of its legal status, as has been demonstrated historically, with tobacco." The authors of the journal also go on to list the negative physical symptoms resulting from using marijuana, along with statistics on the use of driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC).

On April 30, the San Francisco Chronicle republished an article written by the Associated Press (here) stating that the New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan has asked to strike down the fourth medical marijuana proposal in six years which allows people to grow in their own yards at home. Author Morgan True of the Associated Press also writes, "Home cultivation is crucial to ensuring access for patients in rural areas and for those who can't afford to buy the drug from dispensaries, said the bill's House sponsor, Rep. Donna Schlachman, an Exeter Democrat. Plus, many patients with terminal conditions who have waited years for medical marijuana don't have the 18 months to two years it will take for dispensaries to open." The proposal, True writes, is being rewritten in a Senate committee.

Where does this leave Texans?
No one really knows. It seems as if Texas is still very much in the planning phases of accepting marijuana for something other than harmful recreational use and something that can be used in the medical field as a healing agent. Actually, not many know if Texas will even get there anytime soon.

Photo credit: Houston Criminal Law Journal

Alyson Morales
Blog post 4
Medical Marijuana

Texas Republicans push back against stronger gun control legislation

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With Obama’s very vocal push for more restrictive gun legislation to be passed, a just as loud opposition from the other side of 2^nd Amendment-right-supporting, conservative Republicans can be heard loud and clear.

“It is saddening to see the President today, once again, try to take advantage of this tragic murder to promote an agenda that will do nothing to stop violent crime, but will undermine the constitutional rights of all law-abiding Americans,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in response to Obama’s attempt to use the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Conn. this past December to garner support.

Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) invited all individuals and companies who feel their 2^nd Amendment rights have been infringed upon to move to Texas.

Even Governor Rick Perry has not been shy about his stance on keeping Texas a gun friendly state. “Guns require a finger to pull the trigger. The sad young man who did that in Newtown was clearly haunted by demons, and no gun law could have saved the children from his terror,” Gov. Perry said.

Texas has historically has had a culture that supports and encourages individuals to embrace their 2^nd Amendment rights to bear arms. Legislators and state officials of the Lone Star State will not go quietly if 60 votes in the Senate are acquired to enact current legislation that is on the docket to restrict citizen’s rights to purchase and carry guns.


Ashton Theiss
Blog Post 3

Gun Laws Around the Globe

In December of 2012, a man walked through the entrance of an elementary school in central China and began knifing down students left and right injuring nearly two dozen people. No one died. It was a very similar scenario to what happened at Sandy Hook elementary except for the difference in weapons used. Thankfully, this man did not have a gun but it raises the question: what if he did?

Last year in the US., nearly 9,000 people were killed by guns, however, in similar countries like Canada there was only 150 and in Germany 170. This could be due in part to the higher availability to weapons such as guns, explosives, and rifles in the U.S. than in almost every other industrialized country. Almost every other industrialized nation has reasonable gun laws.

Unfortunately, as tragedies continue to happen in the U.S., with the most recent one being the explosions at the Boston marathon, the more states try to pass laws for people to carry guns to protect themselves. Many argue that people are going to find ways to get guns in their hands no matter what. Maybe the reasons why these other countries continue to have less homicides is because they didn't have relaxed gun laws to begin with and it is now too late for the U.S. to go back and mend their laws.

Right now, the gun issue in Texas and the rest of America is still up in debate. HB Bill 972 would eliminate the current ban on guns in universities but will allow public schools the choice to "opt out" of using weapons if they meet with faculty first and discuss the option.  The specific language of "opt out" has softened the opposition amongst people who were against the bill. Authors of the bill expect it to pass in the house but there is uncertainty of how it will do in the Senate. It will be interesting to see how this bill plays out in the final days of the legislature.

Rian Worm

Education Budget - A national look

The National Education Association ranks states based on how much they spend per student in the United States. According to the latest figures, Texas is ranked 49th of all states and the District of Columbia.

The following video looks at how much public education is truly costing the tax payers and how much we need to cover these costs. The study was completed by the CATO Institute in 2010.



The video reiterates the fact that public education costs more than we even know. So what are we truly spending on education and what needs to be remedied?

Texas currently spends about $8,400 per student while the national average is $11,455. Because of this Texas public education is behind other states and the students are missing out.

Ivy Anderson

Child Obesity

A lot has happened this month with this bill, but it is still standing to this date.

It wasn’t read until March 5, 2013, where it was immediately referred to Arriculture and Livestock. A month later, on April 10, it was considered in public hearing, and left pending until the 15^th. On the 15^th, it was considered in a formal meeting, recommended to be sent to Local and Consent, and reported favorably without amendment(s). The next day the Comte report was filed with the Committee coordinator, distributed that same day, and sent to the local and consent calendar the next day. A few days later, it was placed on local and consent calendars.

I found an interesting article on ABC news that argued whether child obesity was a sign of parental abuse or not. I thought that this was a very interesting point, and the other side of the argument is that the child’s health is not in the school’s hands, but in the parents. The article said that the problem starts when the child is an infant. When the infant cries, the mother automatically thinks the infant is hungry and feeds it. According to the article, Linda Spears, vice president of policy and public affairs at the Child Welfare League of America said “There are often a lot of things going on," she added. "The question is what's going on with the family that's causing the situation in which you have an obese child with health consequences that are not being addressed." 

Instead of the school making changes to the food they serve, this side of the argument says that the parents should make the change. The parents could only allow their kid to bring their lunch to school, and not give them any lunch money, so the child has no choice but to eat the lunch they packed. This way, the parent can totally in control of what their child is eating for lunch. 

The parents also need to be good examples to their kids in order for this change to happen. Below is a video of COAK, the Coalition of Angry Kids, who completely blame their obesity on the example set by their parents. 

Click here to see COAK video

The next video is of Michelle Obama talking also about how the parents influence how their kids eat. 

Click here to watch Michelle Obama video

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/obese-children-parents-abusive/story?id=11446364#.UX9uRjnd7wx

Child obesity

Shelby Knight

Half Way There

The Texas 83^rd Legislature has been in session for some time now and has continued to make progress with Senate Bill 245 and House Bill 915. Both bills relate to childcare and eligibility. Senate Bill 245 concerns the contracts and eligibility for advocacy centers to be allowed to provide services for children in abuse or neglected cases. House Bill 915 relates to the administration and monitoring of health care that is or should be provided to foster children.

Senate Bill 245 was passed by the Senate on March 13^th and was received in the House on March 14^th. Since then, it has been read for the first time in the House on April 4^th and was referred to Human Services. Recently, it was considered in a formal meeting, underwent committee substitutions and recommended to be sent to Local and Consent. As of April 25^th, SB 245 had been reported favorably from the House.

Senator Royce West, one of the three sponsors of this bill, provides a published analysis of the amendments and provisions he would like to see made through SB 245.

House Bill 915 has undergone numerous committee reports and has been read three times in the House throughout the month of April. The bill was passed by the House on April 19^th and received by the Senate on April 22^nd. Two days later, the Senate read HB 915 for the first time on April 24^th.  That same day the bill was referred to Health and Human Services, and is now scheduled for a public hearing on May 2^nd. 

Both of these bills have been passed by half of the Texas legislature and the sponsors hope to continue making steps forward throughout the next month.

-Brelle de Groot

Why I Care About Teacher Pay

I come from a long line of educators. My great-grandmother taught elementary school in Lubbock, TX. My grandmother taught high school english for 37 years at Paschal High School in Fort Worth. My mother has taught kindergarten for 18 years at Westcliff Elementary in Fort Worth. My cousin teaches elementary school in Aledo, TX. Another cousin is a psychology professor at Yale University in New Haven, CT.

As you can see, the Chilton family likes to teach. That is why I care about HB 176 and the need for an increase in teacher salaries here in Texas as well as nationwide. I believe teachers are underpaid and under appreciated when it comes to government action.

According to a 2011 article, the United States ranked 22nd out of 27 countries when looking at teacher pay. The top countries, minus New Zealand, are all in Europe. This makes sense because teaching in Europe is a highly valued profession, therefore they are paid more.

I am fortunate to have so many passionate family members that are teachers. I have always been told the importance of education, and I will continue to believe in its importance.

Final update: HB 176 is still in education committee.

"A teacher affects eternity: he can never tell where his influence stops."
 - Henry Adams

Preston Chilton

Post 5