Will Texas, one of the most conservative states in the United States, join the American states where cannabis is decriminalized?
The Texas House of Representatives, the equivalent of our National Assembly, has in any case given its initial approval to a bill aimed at decriminalizing cannabis in the State. Earlier this Wednesday, a committee heard testimony about a separate bill to legalize and regulate cannabis sales more broadly.
The House passed Democratic Congressman Joe Moody’s bill at second reading in a loud vote, preparing it for final passage in the House.
“I’m very proud to present to you a bill that will reduce taxes, improve economic opportunity for Texans, and strengthen law enforcement’s ability to respond to serious crime,” Moody said. “Bill 218 changes the way we enforce laws relating to possession of cannabis for personal use. »
“Possession of a small amount of cannabis is still illegal, but we are approaching it in a smarter way than today,” he added. “This will free up hundreds of millions of dollars that are currently spent on law enforcement, keep police on the streets to work on more serious cases instead of dealing with these minor arrests and ensure that those who would currently end up with a criminal record that interferes with employment, school, housing, and obtaining a license exit the process without permanent stigma. »
The bill would make possession of up to one ounce (28 grams) of cannabis a Class C misdemeanor, removing the risk of imprisonment and instead imposing a maximum fine of $500. Current law classifies possession of small amounts of cannabis as a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
The bill also clarifies that possession of less than two ounces of cannabis does not result in an arrest, meaning offenders are cited and released. In addition, individuals who have been convicted of possessing less than two ounces of cannabis could request that those convictions be expunged through legal process upon payment of a $30 fee.
The vote comes about a month after a House of Representatives committee unanimously passed the measure, which would remove the risk of arrest or jail time for low-level cannabis possession and allow people to eventually erase cannabis-related offenses from their criminal records.
The House has already passed similar proposals to decriminalize cannabis in the last two legislative sessions, in 2021 and 2019. So far, the proposals have always stalled in the Senate due to opposition from Republican Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.
It is not yet known whether Dan Patrick will again seek to block reform of Texas cannabis laws.
