DALLAS — Local marijuana policy reform activists, including a former Dallas police official, will gather Saturday for an advocacy training event at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in Dallas. Details of the event are available at http://www.texasmarijuanapolicy.org/training-dallas.
The event, hosted by Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, is the second in a series of events being held around the state as part of an effort to inject the marijuana policy debate into 2016 state legislative races. Regional events are also scheduled for Corpus Christi on November 7, East Texas on December 5, and Houston on December 12. The first event was held earlier this month in San Antonio.
The featured speaker at Saturday’s event will be Joe Morris, a retired senior police corporal who enforced marijuana laws in uniform and undercover during his tenure at the Dallas Police Department. He will join representatives of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy for media availability at 9:30 a.m. CT, and members of the media are invited to listen to his presentation at 10:15 a.m. CT.
“Marijuana prohibition has been a public policy failure and a public safety nightmare,” said Morris, who participated in hundreds of marijuana-related undercover stings during his career, oftentimes involving buying marijuana from or selling it to high schools students. “Fortunately, the last decade has proven that regulation works better than prohibition. Cigarette and alcohol use by teens have been reduced without criminalizing responsible adults, and our marijuana policy should take a similar approach.
“Now is the time to have these important discussions about our failed marijuana policies,” Morris said. “The longer we wait, the more destruction and harm these laws will cause. I believe it’s my duty to share this message, and I look forward to working alongside local activists to bring justice to Texas.”
WHAT: Regional advocacy training event for local activists who will be working to inject the marijuana policy debate into 2016 state legislative races
WHEN: Saturday, October 31, media availability at 9:30 a.m. CT, featured speaker at approximately 10:15 a.m. CT
WHERE: J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, Laurie Evans Studio, 3rd floor, 1515 Young St., Dallas
WHO: Senior Cpl. Joe Morris (Ret.), Dallas Police Department
Representatives from Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy
Local volunteer advocates
