Next week, the Texas House of Representatives is set to vote on a decriminalization bill for marijuana possession. It will also create a procedure for expunging cannabis convictions.
The Calendars Committee officially scheduled the floor discussion for Wednesday, April 26, about a month after the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee passed it unanimously.
Rep. Joe Moody’s (D) measure would eliminate the possibility of arrest and jail time for low level possession of cannabis, and allow people to erase cannabis-related issues from their criminal record.
The House passed similar cannabis decriminalization bills in the two previous legislative sessions, 2021 and 2019 The has been a constant stumbling block in the Senate due to the opposition of Lt. Governor. Dan Patrick (R), the Republican who preside over the chamber, is a member of it.
The bill that is headed to the floor, HB 218 combines two separate measures passed by the House in the most recent session.
The Texas House of Representatives will debate and vote on legislation that lowers the penalties for possessing cannabis flower and concentrates on 4/26/23.
Ask your Representative to vote YES: https://t.co/Y9g9O5eA2V pic.twitter.com/GMleT6wmzi
Texas NORML April 21, 2019
The proposed law would reduce the punishment for possession of up one ounce marijuana to a Class C misdemeanor. Instead of facing jail time, it would impose a maximum $500 fine. The current law defines possession of small quantities of cannabis as a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180-days in jail or a maximum fine of $2,000
In addition, the bill specifies that possession up to two ounces cannabis will not lead to an arrest. Instead, violators are cited and released. For a fee of $30, those with convictions for possession up to two ounces marijuana can have their convictions expunged.
Jax James, Executive Director of Texas NORML, told Marijuana Moment that he was excited to see the bill scheduled for debate. The reduction of penalties for low-level cannabis offenses will allow police and courts to focus their resources on more serious crimes.
She said: “Minor marijuana offenders, including many young people, shouldn’t be burdened with a criminal history and the stigma and lifelong penalties associated with it,” “We expect this legislation to advance to the Senate.”
The House’s floor schedule was announced shortly after it passed a bill to allow medical marijuana to be used as an alternative to opioids by people suffering from chronic pain, and to replace the THC limit set by the state. This legislation is now being sent to the Senate to be considered.
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According to a University of Texas/Texas Politics Project survey conducted in December, nearly 3 out of 4 Texas voters (72%) support decriminalizing cannabis. Over half (55%) of respondents said they support a broader legalization. Seventeen percent of respondents said that it should not be legalized at all.
The same institution conducted a more recent poll that showed that the majority of Texas voters felt that state marijuana laws should “be less strict”.
Texas legislators also filed a number of new bills recently aimed at expanding and promoting psychedelics in the state.
The activists in Texas have been successful in passing municipal cannabis reform laws. In November, voters in five Texas cities — Denton, Elgin and Harker Heights , Killeen, San Marcos , passed ballot measures decriminalizing marijuana.
Local officials in those municipalities have attempted to undermine the cannabis measures that were approved by voters, but
Next month, voters in San Antonio will decide whether to decriminalize cannabis.
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The article Texas House to Vote on Marijuana Expungement Bill Next Week first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
