The measure has the backing of two GOP House committee chairs and one Democrat, and calls for legal protection of medical-marijuana users and for doctors to be freer to recommend the drug.

Researchers say 75 percent of Texans support medical marijuana, and 10 other states have passed similar laws. "I've never used an illegal drug in my life, but God forbid any of my loved ones contract some dreaded disease, and if a doctor tells me that may make a difference in the final outcome, I'd be on the street in a heartbeat looking for it. ... And how dare a legislator be willing to stand in the way of that?" said one lawmaker.

But some conservative lawmakers and groups like the Texas Eagle Forum oppose medical-marijuana laws. "There are some people who are going to use that as an entry-level drug, and then go into something much more dangerous as far as addiction and drug use is concerned," said an Eagle Forum spokesperson.

Still, supporters are hopeful about the bill's prospects, saying that the social and political stigma of marijuana use are waning. "With each passing year, there's a better chance for it," said House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Chairman Terry Keel (R-Austin).

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by ananymous on 19 May 08 04:06 AM EDT

marijuan is not an "entry-level drug" it does not lead to other heavier drugs nor is it addictive in anyway. Pain pills,oxycotton,hydrocodone people are getting prescribed daily which are very addictive and are real dangerous brain damaging drugs and extremely addictive! shoulnt that be a problem then? why are they legal to patients? i have never seen a person on pot get depressed screaming after a couple of days without a smoke. try getting a oxycotton patient off of the pills for 1 day and they go through so many crazy withdrawals! Think about it!

Posted by Anonymous on 06 Jan 09 07:33 AM EST

I am one of those people who have been prescribed Oxycontin for pain, yet I can't legally use marijuana to help me cope with pain etc. How can anyone say or have the right to tell me I can't use a harmless substance like marijuna? Too funny

Posted by I most definately agree on 09 Feb 09 11:19 AM EST

I want everyone to understand. The law makers wants people to not know that it is a very good alternative to the oxycotton and hydrocodone being more natural. I am a person who would benifit for the use of it medically. it needs to be more readily avalible for chornic pain and other aweful illnesses,

Posted by mark on 12 Feb 09 09:09 AM EST

i agree with all these people, i do not have a disease nor do i need medicinal marijuana but my mother inlaw was diagnosed with colon and liver cancer and we are going to try something called angel oil any life is more importatnt than this law.

Posted by Barry Willie Black on 04 Jun 09 05:22 PM EDT

For the sake of brevity... My name is Barry, and I'm not a pot-a-holic. With that said, marijuana has kept me working and productive when none of the other drugs were effective. I have a bone spur poking in my spine for the last 20 years and two hits makes me able to do what I do. Two joints and even I can't tell I've got an injury such as the thorn in my spine. Why would anyone have a problem with that? Now because of existing laws and attitudes, I can' smoke anymore, because I'm on probation. Go figure! The one thing that has worked without making me feel stupid, they are going to test me for, for the duration of my probation. Is that simple enough? Yeah, I got a problem with marijuana, but only that folks don't know the truth, or it wouldn't still be a scheduled drug.

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