A bill to decriminalize marijuana possession has been approved unanimously by a legislative panel in Texas.
On Tuesday, Rep. Joe Moody’s (D) proposed legislation was advanced by the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee with a 9-0 vote. The legislation aims to eliminate the possibility of arrest or imprisonment for minor cannabis possession and eventually enable individuals to clear their criminal records of cannabis-related offenses.
“Basically, the person is given a ticket goes to court, they’re assessed a fine. Then the court tells them, ‘You’ve got six months to pay and you need to stay out of trouble during that time,’” Moody said. “If the person does their part, the court dismisses the charges. And on a request of the individual, deletes the entire record of it. The person walks away lighter in the wallet but without any criminal record whatsoever.”
Similar proposals to decriminalize cannabis have been passed by the House of Representatives in the 2019 and 2021 legislative sessions. However, these proposals have not progressed in the Senate. This is largely due to the opposition of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick who oversees the chamber.
The proposed bill would classify possession of marijuana or cannabis concentrates of up to one ounce as a Class C misdemeanor, which would eliminate the possibility of imprisonment and instead impose a maximum fine of $500.
Additionally, the bill outlines that possession of cannabis up to two ounces would not lead to an arrest. Instead, the offenders would be released and receive a citation. Moreover, individuals with possession convictions up to two ounces of marijuana could have those convictions erased through a court process for a fee of $30.
Meanwhile, activists have implemented cannabis reform policies in municipalities. In November, voters in Denton, Elgin, Harker Heights, Killeen, and San Marcos, approved measures to decriminalize marijuana.
