Author Archives: Zoe Russell

Exploring the Relationship Between Christianity and Marijuana Prohibition

Join us to explore Christianity and marijuana prohibition. Cannabis is thousands of years old and one of the world’s earliest agricultural crops. Cannabis was used medicinally for its properties as a stress reliever, antiemetic, antibiotic, anti-depressive, anti-inflammatory, and other uses across China, India, Africa, and greater distances with trade. The most controversial use of marijuana […]

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Intricacies of the Jacob Lavoro Case, Teen Facing Life for Pot Brownies

Jacob Lavoro is a Texas teen who was allegedly found in possession of hash-oil infused brownies and raw marijuana inside his home. Prosecutors in Williamson County have yet to indict Lavoro, but he is facing a felony possession charge of over 400 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance, which carries a prison sentence […]

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Rice University’s Baker Institute and Texas Monthly host panel discussion on medical marijuana and PTSD

Dr. William Martin, Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute, participated in a panel discussion with State Senator Joan Huffman, Dr. Neeraj Shah, Maj. (Ret.) David Bass, and moderated by Brian Sweany, senior executive editor of Texas Monthly. The topic was pulled from the pages of the June issue of […]

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Texas voters will push for marijuana legalization by 2019

This article was originally featured as part of the Baker Institute Viewpoints series. Following the legalization of retail marijuana sales in Colorado and Washington, and medical marijuana in 22 states with more to follow, marijuana legalization appears inevitable — even in “law and order” states such as Texas. The question is no longer if Texas […]

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How Does a (Marijuana) Bill Become Law?

For those in states without a ballot initiative, a bill must travel an interesting road to become law. A bill is typically introduced early in the legislative session by the bill’s sponsor. There can be co-sponsors or co-authors that join in along the life of the bill to show their support. A bill can be […]

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The House Threatens Suit Over Executive Under-Enforcement

The Republican majority in the House, with 5 Democratic votes, passed H.R. 4138, the ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014. In the argument for the bill, Republicans cite as grievances the changes President Obama has made to healthcare mandates, deferred action of deportation for certain illegal immigrants, and lack of enforcement of the Controlled Substances […]

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RAMP Offers Resolutions for 2014 Republican Conventions

RAMP members will be supporting medical marijuana and marijuana decriminalization changes to our state platform through our Texas convention season, and invite Republicans from across the US to utilize these sample resolutions. Resolution Regarding Criminal Justice Resolution Empowering Individuals to Direct Their Health Care We have compiled very helpful information to walk you through the […]

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RAMP Attends International Students for Liberty Conference in Washington, D.C.

The 2014 International Students for Liberty Conference held from February 14-16 in Washington, D.C. hosted dozens of speakers with several addressing drug policy. Jason Miller, Communications Director, and myself returned home with some valuable insight and advice. For one featured session, Republican Congressman Justin Amash (MI 3rd District) answered questions from FreedomWorks President and CEO […]

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President Obama’s Dangerous Habit…of Saying and Doing Completely Different Things

President Obama sent shockwaves across the country with his blunt comments to The New Yorker about marijuana legalization. In the lengthy piece, author David Remnick and President Obama share this exchange: “As has been well documented, I [Obama] smoked pot as a kid, and I view it as a bad habit and a vice, not […]

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Ted Cruz Criticizes Obama’s Marijuana Policy, But Abandons Federalism in the Process

Texas Senator Ted Cruz gave a speech to the Texas Public Policy Foundation on January 10 in which he stated that, of all the “bad stuff” the nation has endured throughout Obama’s tenure, “one of the most dangerous is the consistent pattern of lawlessness from this President and this Administration.” Using the Dream Act, Obamacare, […]

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