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The Texas GOP State Convention

New Planks Approved

*UPDATED*

Over the weekend, Republicans met in Dallas for their State Convention where they addressed the planks on their platform. The preceding week was filled with committee work preparing for the convention. This meant that cannabis activists on the ground were working hard all week. The following summary is the fruit of their labor.

Tuesday : Testimony taken in subcommittee and a weak resolution passed: “We call upon the Texas Legislature to improve the 2015 Compassionate use act to allow doctors to determine the appropriate use of low-THC cannabis to prescribed patients.”

Wednesday : Testimony was taken and the Temporary Platform Committee passed an improved plank #165: Compassionate Use Act – We call upon the Texas Legislature to improve the 2015 Compassionate Use Act to allow doctors to determine the appropriate use of cannabis to prescribed patients.

Thursday : Testimony was taken, a bad amendment was put forward and quashed by a committee member, and the Permanent Platform Committee voted to include plank #165 in their report which means that it went directly to the convention floor.

Friday : Plank #165 was up for a vote by convention delegates. There were individuals prepared to speak on behalf of the plank if someone tried to amend or delete it. However, someone called all planks to a vote and debate never occurred. The delegates voted via scantron on all planks put before them. The convention officials tallied the scantrons through the night.

Saturday : Results were announced! Plank #165 passed by 78% (6501 For / 1804 Against)! Here is the exact verbiage of the new plank:

“Compassionate Use Act – We call upon the Texas Legislature to improve the 2015 Compassionate Use Act to allow doctors to determine the appropriate use of cannabis to prescribed patients.” A Hemp plank passed by 71% (5800 For / 2385 against) that reads as follows:

“Hemp Cultivation- We support legislation allowing for industrial hemp cultivation in Texas.”

Additionally, plank #161 addresses civil asset forfeiture as follows “We need to reinstate the rights embodied in the 4th Amendment that have been rendered null and void by activist courts and government overreach. We urge the Legislature to abolish civil asset forfeiture and to ensure private property only be forfeited upon a criminal conviction.”

There was also a plank regarding Jury Nullification that read “We support the notification to juries of their rights and powers (including jury nullification.)”

Lastly, plank #71 gives the Texas GOP the ability to censure any candidate for opposing Republican principles. It reads in full: “We support a rule allowing delegates of the State Convention, or the State Republican Executive Committee to censure a Republican officeholder for cause, including but not limited to consistent actions taken in opposition to principles of the Republican Party of Texas, defined in the preamble of the party platform as described in rule 43A.”

If you would like to review the new Republican Party of Texas Platform, you may do so HERE. You can also find the voting results HERE. We want to thank all of our Texas NORML Republican cannabis activists that worked tirelessly on this effort from the Precinct Convention stage to the State Convention. Also many thanks to Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition (RAMP) for spearheading and organizing the effort as well as all of the work done by our coalition, Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy (TRMP).

Remember, the problem is the LAW, not the plant!