Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Filed in Texas for 2017 Legislative Session
AUSTIN, TX When Texas lawmakers reconvene in January, a proposal to decriminalize up to one ounce of marijuana in Texas will be waiting.
State Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso) filed House Bill 81 on Monday, the first day of filing, in advance of the 2017 legislative session. The bill proposes reducing the penalty for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana in Texas to a civil penalty, punishable by up to a $250 fine. Current criminal penalties would remain for possession over one ounce.
Under the proposal, police officers would not be able to arrest anyone if their only offense was possession marijuana under an ounce.
Moody introduced a similar proposal during the last regular legislative session in 2015. That bill,House Bill 507, had received initialapprovalin a 4-2 vote from a key legislative committee, but time ran out on the legislative session beforeit could advance further.
According to aSeptember 2015 poll, less than 20% of Texans believe marijuana possession should remain a criminal offense. Currently, possession of any amount of marijuana in Texas could land an offender in jail for several months, as well as ...
