The Briefing Room
State Chapters => Texas => Topic started by: Elderberry on April 26, 2019, 12:13:47 pm
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Dallas News by Lauren McGaughy 4/25/2019
A bill that would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana in Texas has been substantially rewritten to increase its chances of becoming law.
As proposed, House Bill 63 would have removed the penalty for getting caught with an ounce or less of marijuana and replaced it with a $250 fine. But late Wednesday, Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, filed an amended version of the legislation. The new version would lessen penalties for possession of small amounts of pot, instead of removing them altogether, while making it easier to avoid a criminal record.
Essentially, marijuana possession would remain a crime but with far fewer of the current consequences. The changes were necessary, Moody said, to overcome opposition to the bill.
"I certainly think there is significant bipartisan support for [decriminalization]," Moody said. But "there are others in this building who think we can get to the same conclusion in a different way."
"There's an entire body across the hall," Moody added, referring to the Texas Senate, whose leader Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has opposed changing the state's pot laws. "And there's only one signature that matters."
More: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2019/04/24/texas-marijuana-bill-gets-serious-mellow-high-penalties-possession-could-still-come (https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2019/04/24/texas-marijuana-bill-gets-serious-mellow-high-penalties-possession-could-still-come)
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Legalizing possession without legalizing the sale is a recipe for disaster. You essentially say "You can have this but you can't legally buy it here". In DC, you can buy a sticker for $60 and get a eighth of Purple Granddaddy for free.
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Dallas News by Lauren McGaughy 4/25/2019
A bill that would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana in Texas has been substantially rewritten to increase its chances of becoming law.
As proposed, House Bill 63 would have removed the penalty for getting caught with an ounce or less of marijuana and replaced it with a $250 fine. But late Wednesday, Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, filed an amended version of the legislation. The new version would lessen penalties for possession of small amounts of pot, instead of removing them altogether, while making it easier to avoid a criminal record.
Essentially, marijuana possession would remain a crime but with far fewer of the current consequences. The changes were necessary, Moody said, to overcome opposition to the bill.
"I certainly think there is significant bipartisan support for [decriminalization]," Moody said. But "there are others in this building who think we can get to the same conclusion in a different way."
"There's an entire body across the hall," Moody added, referring to the Texas Senate, whose leader Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has opposed changing the state's pot laws. "And there's only one signature that matters."
More: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2019/04/24/texas-marijuana-bill-gets-serious-mellow-high-penalties-possession-could-still-come (https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2019/04/24/texas-marijuana-bill-gets-serious-mellow-high-penalties-possession-could-still-come)
Oh great.... we need more people driving under the influence on our Texas roads.