This week in cannabis news for Texas, the city of Killeen may be reviewing its cannabis decrim ordinance measure and could take several steps to handle the ballot initiative. Liz Grow and Patrick Pope of GrowHouse Media come on the podcast to discuss hosting the Taste of Texas Hemp Cup.
The Killeen City council could be voting on the cannabis decriminalization measure this coming Tuesday.
The city council placed a two-week moratorium on the measure when they last met to discuss it. After public comment on the issue, the council decided they wished to weigh their options and discuss a path forward. Different sides of the issue were discussed, and the council could decide on moving forward with possible changes to the ordinance.
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One of the options is to let the council flat-out vote in favor of the measure and have it pass as it stands. Another option being discussed is to alter the effort to remove the portion that would prevent officers from using a smell test as probable cause. The council could also ultimately decide to repeal the ordinance and could not discuss it. The ordinance may go into effect without a city council vote keeping the council in what some may see as a neutral position.
The Killeen Daily Herald has been reporting on the issue and noting the positions of quite a few of the council members and city management.
“That is clearly the main point,” City Attorney Holli Clements told the council on Nov. 22. “If you take that out, you are kind of gutting the ordinance. Repealing the ordinance would be direction from council. Staff would bring back an ordinance to repeal this ordinance. And then your third option (is) you would not need to take any action.”
Killeen Police Chief Charles Kimble added about concern about removing their tools and the right they have to use those tools.
“The U.S. Constitution … (grants) law enforcement officers the ability to search and seize illegal substances based on probable cause — probable cause being the odor of burnt marijuana,” Kimble said on Nov. 22
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Others such as Ground Game Texas and other advocates have argued though that since hemp was legalized, this should be making the concept moot for officers. No person or trained animal can tell the difference between legal hemp and illegal marijuana, fresh or burnt, has been the argument against that notion. Since hemp was legalized, why would officers have a right to search your property on the basis of smelling a now legalized substance, and advocates have pushed the ordinance for the reason.
Julie Oliver of Ground Game Texas noted to Harker Heights City Council about this ordinance that in the 2019 legislative session Texas legalized hemp, and because of that the marijuana decriminalization ordinance should stand to protect those who use legal hemp.
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“Legal hemp is indistinguishable from illegal marijuana,” Oliver said. “… Please let the voice of the people stand.”
The next city council meeting for Killeen will be held on Tuesday December 6 at 5 p.m. at City Hall
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Liz Grow and Patrick Pope joined the Lonestar Collective Podcast this past week to discuss the Taste of Texas Hemp Cup. The event will be taking place this coming Saturday on the 10th of December from 2pm to 10pm at the Far Out Lounge in Austin, TX.
The two discussed that GrowHouse Media event will be having a dab lounge and a dab judging competition taking place in real time at the event. As well there will be a musical performance by Blackillac. It was noted that since the hip-hop duo are on local musician Gary Clark Jr.’s record label that it could be possible for him to make a surprise appearance at the event.
For more information, listen to Episode 64 of the Lonestar Collective Podcast, and to purchase tickets, visit taste of texas hemp cup dot com.