mail carriers, beware

Off the chain: Texas ranks third in the nation for dog bites

Turns out the Texas may not be the best state for mail carriers — and not just because of the searing summer heat.

According to recent data compiled by insurance giant State Farm, our fair state is third in the nation for dog bites.

With 236 dog-bite claims filed with the company in 2012, Lone Star residents managed to rack up $4.3 million in payouts, which is peanuts compared to $9 million in Illinois and $17.1 in California.

In another recent report, the U.S. Postal Service also highlighted Texas as a hotbed of unruly dogs in fiscal year 2012. In the agency's top 15 cities for dog attacks on postal workers, San Antonio ranked second with 42 incidents with Houston and Dallas earning ninth and 13th places, respectively.

Though great for companionship and protection against intruders and squirrels, even the best of dogs can have the worst of days. As such, the City of Houston and its BARC animal shelter suggest a few preventative measures:

Never leave a child unattended with a dog, even a family pet
Work one-on-one with your pet to reduce anxiety in uncomfortable situations
Keep dogs leashed in public to prevent confrontations
Keep pets confined when postal workers deliver mail

Now if you find yourself on the wrong end of an angry local canine, the City of Houston has advice for that as well, albeit much more graphic. Click here for BARC's tips and don't be scared away by phrases such as:

"Once a dog has bitten, do not pull back; the damage is already done"
"You may have to sacrifice, or 'take the bite' ”
"If all else fails, go limp, curling up into the fetal position"

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no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana