Texas House Passes Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajherrington/2023/04/26/texas-house-passes-marijuana-decriminalization-bill/?sh=c4f964f2b365

The Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday gave preliminary approval a bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. The legislation, House Bill 218, was approved on its second reading by members of the House with a voice vote Wednesday afternoon, leaving one more vote in the chamber before final passage, according to a report from Marijuana Moment.

The bill, which was passed unanimously by the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee last month, would remove criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana or cannabis concentrate. Such possession would be reclassified as a Class C misdemeanor, a citable offense not subject to arrest and carrying a fine of up to $500.

“Basically, the person is given a ticket goes to court, they’re assessed a fine, then the court tells them, ‘You’ve got six months to pay and you need to stay out of trouble during that time,’” Democratic state Rep. Joe Moody said at a committee hearing for the legislation in March according to a report from Marijuana Moment.

The legislation also reduces the penalties for other marijuana offenses, reducing possession of one to two ounces of marijuana to a Class B misdemeanor that is not subject to arrest. Possession of between two and four ounces of pot would be reduced to a Class A misdemeanor. The legislation also includes provisions providing for the expungement of some past marijuana possession convictions.

Under current Texas state law, possession of up to two ounces of cannabis is a Class B misdemeanor. Possession of two to four ounces of marijuana is a Class A misdemeanor, subject to up to a year in county jail time and a fine of up to $4,000. Possession of more than four ounces of pot or any amount of cannabis concentrate is a felony.

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The MJ LEGAL TIDE is turning