A Texas legislative panel has unanimously approved a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession. The House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee passed the bill on a 5-0 vote. The bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, would reduce criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of cannabis, including imposing a maximum fine of $500.
Regardless of laws across the Red River, marijuana remains illegal in Texas. Currently, possession of two ounces or less of marijuana can lead to jail time of up to 180 days and a maximum fine of $2,000.
Oklahoma voters rejected a state question Tuesday to allow for the recreational use of marijuana, following a late blitz of opposition from religious and law-enforcement groups. Medical cannabis is legal in Oklahoma, but recreational marijuana remains illegal.
In contrast, Medical cannabis is legal in Texas, offering a natural solution for alleviating symptoms of over 150 conditions approved under the Texas Medical Marijuana Program. This includes conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, autism, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
FORT WORTH, Texas - A Fort Worth councilman wants the city to considering a proposal to decriminalize marijuana possession up to four ounces. The proposal, introduced by Councilman Chris Nettles, would reduce penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana from a Class B misdemeanor to a civil fine of $50. Nettles says this would enable the city to devote more resources to more serious crimes.
Tens of thousands of Texans from the bustling Dallas-Fort Worth area routinely drive across the Red River to gamble in glitzy, casinos in Oklahoma, but now marijuana enthusiasts are making the same trip in search of legal weed.
Nevertheless, it remains illegal to transport marijuana from Oklahoma into Texas, even if the marijuana is obtained legal in Oklahoma. Texas law enforcement officers are still authorized to search vehicles for marijuana, and transporting marijuana across state lines is a federal crime.
The Texas legislation is just the latest move towards decriminalization of marijuana possession in the state. Several cities, including Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, have already reduced the penalties for possession of small amounts of cannabis.
The Texas bill must still pass the full House and Senate before it becomes law. If it becomes law, it would be the most significant step towards marijuana decriminalization in the state.
