The Texas Senate, led by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a longtime opponent of legalization, has consistently blocked the legislation.
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra talks about his support for cannabis decriminalization on the Quad of Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 1, 2022.The Texas House on Wednesday will debate a bill that lowers the penalty for the possession of small amounts of marijuana to make it a fine-only offense akin to a speeding ticket, with no jail time.
Under current law, the offense is a Class B misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to 180 days in jail and a maximum fine of $2,000. “There are tens of thousands of arrests for personal-use possession in Texas annually, and those cost our state hundreds of millions of dollars every single year, not to mention countless hours of law enforcement and prosecutor time, and they also tag people, mostly young people, with criminal records that create lifelong obstacles to jobs, education, housing and other opportunities.
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