Earlier this week, a bill that would fully legalize marijuana in Texas surprised many politicos in the state when it cleared the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee in a 5-2 vote. The author, state Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview), a tea party conservative, is pushing the proposal on religious grounds, arguing that marijuana comes from God and therefore should not be banned.

"State law currently makes no exceptions even for medical marijuana, making outright legalization unthinkable. Still, advocates hailed the committee vote as "unprecedented progress" for Texas marijuana rights. Nearly three out of five Texas voters (58%) support making marijuana legal for adults and regulating it like alcohol, according to a statewide survey conducted by Public Policy Polling in September 2013." - KSAT San Antonio

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The bill still faces unlikely odds even now that it is eligible to reach the House floor before June 1 -- the last day of the current session (sine dine). Still, the fact that it made it out of committee after weeks of languishing may have some believing in miracles.

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