Austin City Council backs medical marijuana

AUSTIN -- The Austin City Council approved a resolution Thursday that would back medical marijuana use.

The resolution amends the city's state legislative agenda to back laws that would legalize medical marijuana use in Texas and give legal protections to those using it as prescribed by a licensed physician, according to the council's agenda.

Council members approved it as part of Thursday's consent agenda.

But such measures face an uphill battle in the conservative Texas Legislature. State Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, told KVUE that his attempts to pass legislation legalizing medical pot have met opposition, but he plans to try again during the 2015 legislative session.

"We make a little bit of progress every session," Naishtat told KVUE.

However, lawmakers' views on marijuana may be changing.

Gov. Rick Perry, who will leave office after the November elections, told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland earlier this year that he's for the decriminalization of marijuana use, but not legalization.

"As governor, I have begun to implement policies that start us toward a decriminalization" by introducing alternative "drug courts" that provide treatment and softer penalties for minor offenses, Perry said.

jfechter@express-news.et

Twitter: @JFreports