The Texas House of Representatives Criminal Jurisprudence Committee has approved a bill (HB 2165) 5-2 that would end marijuana prohibition in the state. The move comes just days after the committee approved a bill that would reduce state penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Rep. David SimpsonRep. David Simpson
HB 2165, introduced in March by Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview), would strike references to marijuana offenses from Texas statutes, resulting in marijuana being treated similarly to other legal crops, reports advocacy organization Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy (TRMP).
HB 507, authored by committee vice-chair Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso), would remove the threat of arrest, jail time, and a criminal record for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replace them with a civil fine of up to $250. Under current Texas law, individuals found in possession of less than two ounces of marijuana can be arrested and given a criminal record, and they face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. The measure will now advance to the House Calendars Committee.
TRMP reports that 58 percent of Texas voters support making marijuana legal for adults and regulating it like alcohol, according to a statewide survey by Public Policy Polling in September 2013.
AÂ poll commissioned by the Marijuana Policy Project in Texas (and reported on TRMP's website) shows 61 percent of the voters support reducing penalties for the possession of a small amount of marijuana from a criminal offense to a civil penalty similar to a traffic ticket. Fifty-eight percent of voters support access to medical marijuana, and another 58% support a taxed and regulated system similar to those in Washington and Colorado.
