Hometown Glory

Kings of the 1099 Economy: Houston No. 1 in the nation in self-employed trend —by choice

Apparently Houstonians like to be their own bosses: A recent report by Forbes on "The Rise of the 1099 Economy" puts Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown as the leader in the trend toward self-employment.

Using research by Economic Modeling Specialists International, Forbes ranks Greater Houston as No. 1 in the country for fastest self-employment growth.

With 245,643 self-employed residents in 2012, Houston has seen a 12-percent increase since 2008, and a 51-percent expansion in its 1099 economy in the past decade.

"The city has a culture that encourages striking out on your own, and low costs and lighter regulation make it easier," Forbes contributor Joel Kotkin wrote.

"The entrepreneurial drive in Houston is clearly not a response to economic disaster — the city has a culture that encourages striking out on your own, and low costs and lighter regulation make it easier," Forbes contributor Joel Kotkin noted in the article.

He went on to describe how self-employment figures have grown by 35 percent in the energy sector since 2005, and by 75 percent in support activities for oil and gas operations in the same period.

Overall, Texas counts 934,704 self-employed jobs (a 31 percent increase since 2001), with two other Lone Star state metropolitan statistical areas making Forbes' top 10 list.

San Antonio-New Braunfels ranks No. 6, with 76,505 self-employed (representing an eight percent increase since 2008) and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked No. 7, with 236,949 self-employed (a six percent increase since 2008).

Following Houston in the ranking is Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. at No. 2; Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Ariz. at No. 3; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash. at No. 4; and Baltimore-Towson, Md. at No. 5.

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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