Rep. Joe Moody from El Paso emerges yet again as a champion of cannabis law reform!
As a former prosecutor, Rep. Moody knows the unreasonable burden that cannabis prohibition places on our criminal justice system. Criminalization distracts police offices, clogs courts, and derails the lives of those caught in its snares.
It’s time for Texas to FINALLY decriminalize cannabis possession!
Rep. Moody, who was tapped to serve as Speaker Pro Tem of the Texas House, has filed HB 3242, a bill aimed at eliminating the threat of arrest, jail time, and criminal record for personal amounts of cannabis.
Here’s what the bill does:
- Brings the offense down to a Class C Misdemeanor for low-level possession - up to one ounce - of cannabis (currently: Class B)
- Specifies that a person shall not be arrested for low-level possession
- Eliminates jail time for low-level possession (currently: up to 6 months in jail)
- Reduces the fine to no more than $500 (currently: up to $2000)
- Institutes a policy of automatic deferral and dismissal, if court orders are followed
- Requires the court to send expungement paperwork when the case is dismissed after deferral
These changes reduce penalties for cannabis possession, likening the offense to a speeding ticket. Ultimately, we’d like to see cannabis prohibition repealed entirely. In the meantime, Rep. Moody’s bill represents a big step in the right direction by eliminated much of the harm caused by criminalization.
TAKE ACTION: Contact your legislators in support of statewide decriminalization!