Texans Honk For Medical Marijuana

ARLINGTON TX – They are calling themselves the “DFW Medical Marijuana Bridge Brigade,” a group loosely associated with the marijuana advocacy group, DFW NORML, who are taking their message high above the interstate in Arlington Texas. Members of the group hoisted a massive banner across the Davis and I-30 overpass which read, “Honk For Medical Marijuana.” Judging by the steady stream of honks in the groups recent Facebook video, Texans appear to be favorable to their message.

With the Texas legislature back in session, DFW NORML has been ramping up outreach efforts to garner support for the legalization of medical marijuana in Texas. They have hosted an assortment of events in the recent months, including a protest at Rep. Scott Turners Office in Frisco, where they enlisted the help from some unlikely marijuana activists. Most notably, Alexis Bortell, a 9 year old from Rowlett, who suffers from ‘generalized epilepsy,’ her father Dean, and mother Analiza all joined the team. In a heart felt article posted to the groups website, Dean explains…

No child should have to endure this torture when there is a safe alternative that could be life changing for Alexis. Medical Cannabis has been studied since the 1970s in Israel for treating epilepsy with very good results. It is now being studied in Colorado and is showing the same positive results. Even with the powerful and often dangerous drugs available to American physicians today, over 30% of patients find themselves in the same situation as Alexis where the drugs (and indeed the system) have failed. Medical Cannabis is another tool that should be available to physicians as they wage this war against a disease that kills over 50,000 people a year. I am asking, indeed begging, for your help in getting this medicine for my baby girl.

The group coined the viral marketing campaign, “Team Alexis,” who’s logo features a Cowboy boot with a marijuana leaf representing a spur. The unconventional message and delivery mechanisms break all stereotypes associated with cannabis, and offers Texans a serious argument for the legalization of medical marijuana.

In December, Executive Director of DFW NORML, Shaun McAlister, released a video to all of his supporters to urge them to take action on a recent marijuana decriminalization bill introduced in the Texas legislature. The bill, HB 507, was filed by representative Joe Moody (D-El Paso) and would greatly reduce penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

Although the proposed bill lessons the penalty for possessing the naturally occurring plant, the fact remains that the prohibition of marijuana would continue. However, a relatively small fine greatly outweighs the hassles and financial burdens of a trip to jail for presumably a victimless crime. It is a positive step in the right direction, nonetheless.

The group will be hosting an upcoming event, the Cowtown Medical Cannabis Rally on Saturday February 7, from 12-4:20pm in Fort Worth. The rally is in part to encourage the expansion of clinical trials using cannabis in Texas as stated on the event details page on Facebook…

Back in October of 2014, Texas Children’s Hospital of Houston announced their official participation in the first worldwide clinical trial for Epidiolex® in children with Dravet syndrome. Since that time, we at DFW NORML have been hearing rumors and whispers that a hospital in North Texas is also in talks to participate in this study or one similar. As advocates for medical marijuana in Texas, we are rallying in support of any medical research that could benefit Texas patients through safe, legal access to cannabis. While this study is currently limited to CBD-only medicines, we at DFW NORML feel this is an important first step in the medical community acknowledging the efficacy of cannabis as a medicine for Texas patients. This rally will be held in support of continued research and to further educate the medical community at large about the urgent need for whole plant medical marijuana, as supported by the following quote from Staff Neurosurgeon and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta: “I think the push for CBD-only legislation reflects a lack of understanding of the science involved. If we turn cannabis into a single compound medicine—this is CBD, and nothing else—I think we’re going to find it doesn’t work as well as a whole plant extract. And the danger is that if it doesn’t work as well, people will think that it’s a bust, when in fact, you really need the whole plant to get maximum benefit. Certainly with marijuana the whole plant works better than the single-compound derivatives people have become so focused on.”

DFW NORML is dedicated to legalizing marijuana in Texas. They recognize that cannabis prohibition is bad for Texas, and they support the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes, responsible adult use, and the production of industrial hemp.

BrettSanders.me will be following all of the developments on the legalization efforts for marijuana in Texas, so be sure to subscribe to our email service, or LIKE us on Facebook to get alerted of major news and activists updates.

Watch the CBS 11 special on Alexis



Video from the groups most recent overpass event

