A major effort will be mounted today in the Legislature to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for recreational purposes, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Several current and retired law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges will urge lawmakers to make possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, as long as the person is using it for his or her recretational use and is not selling it, a traffic ticket, punishable by only a $250 fine.
The main bill, introduced by State Rep Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) would remove the threat of arrest, jail time and a criminal record for possession of up to one ounce of pot.Currently, a person can be arrested and given a criminal record, and face up to six months in jail for possession of up to two ounces of marijuana.
"Every year, we arrest about 60,000 people in Texas for possession of tiny amounts of marijuana," said retired State District Judge John Delaney. "Each arrest takes about two hours of police time, not to mention the added burden on jails and courts. This diverts resources that could be spent helping victims of violence and serious property crimes. Issuing citations makes more sense. What's more, a marijuana conviction affects a person's ability to work an support a family for the rest of their life. No one wins, all of us lose."
The group is facing an uphill battle against Gov. Greg Abbott. He has said he will not sign any bills expanding the use of marijuana in any form, recreational or medicinal.