Texas Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana Possession Advances

Texas is inching closer to decriminalizing simple marijuana possession. This week, the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee approved House Bill 81, authored by Chair Joe Moody. The vote was 4 – 2 allowing the bill to advance.

The surprise here is the GOP support, according to Marijuana Policy Project. The Republican party has been known as the most resistant to marijuana reform, but that attitude is changing nationwide as more Republicans sponsor and introduce marijuana law reform bills. It is important to point out that HB 81 had a lot of support from the start with 37 co-authors.

If HB 81 becomes law, those in possession of an ounce or less of marijuana would get a civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket, instead of handcuffs and a trip to jail. The fine would be lowered to $250.

From 2010 through 2015, 418,000 Texans were arrested for marijuana possession. In 2015 alone there were 61,749 marijuana possession arrests.

Heather Fazio of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy said, “This is a bipartisan proposal that represents a moderate shift in how Texas manages low-level marijuana offenses. The state’s current policy of arresting and jailing people for simple marijuana possession is completely unwarranted. Law enforcement officials’ time and limited resources would be better spent addressing serious crimes.”

Fazio also said, “No one should be saddled with a lifelong criminal record simply for possessing a substance that is less harmful than alcohol. Texans overwhelmingly agree that the punishment for simple marijuana possession should be reduced to a simple fine.”

House Bill 81 has the support of 68-percent of Texas voters in in recent polls.

The next step for this bill is a full House vote.