Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jun 2014
Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX)
Copyright: 2014 Austin American-Statesman
Contact:  http://www.statesman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/32
Note: Letters MUST be 150 words or less
Author: Lilly Rockwell
Page: B3

AUSTIN GIVES SYMBOLIC SUPPORT FOR LEGALIZATION OF MEDICAL POT

The measure, approved unanimously by the council, is symbolic.

The city has very little influence over whether the Legislature
legalizes marijuana and it's considered unlikely to gain approval in
the 2015 legislative session.

Only two speakers testified about the measure to the council, and both
were in support.

In a sign of how non-controversial this issue is in left-leaning
Austin, it was approved with no council discussion or debate as part
of the consent agenda.

Council Members Bill Spelman and Mike Martinez, who sponsored the
resolution, cited a Scripps-Howard poll that found 75 percent of
Texans would support legislation allowing people with serious
illnesses to use marijuana to treat themselves.

Supporters consider it an important step in the effort to legalize
marijuana for medical use. Currently all forms of marijuana are
illegal in Texas.

More than 20 states, including Colorado and California, have taken
steps to legalize the use of marijuana for medical ailments, such as
muscular dystrophy.