420 with CNW – Texas Lawmakers to Vote on Cannabis Decriminalization This Week

April 25, 2019 03:20:42

About a month ago, the Texas House Jurisprudence Committee passed a bill that would make low-level cannabis possession a crime punishable by a fine rather than jail time. That bill is now before the House and it will be voted on this week (Thursday).

If the bill becomes law, anyone found in possession of an ounce or less of marijuana would pay a fine of $250. Such a crime would then become a Class C misdemeanor if one is caught more than twice.

Under the current law, anyone who is found with two ounces or less of marijuana can be fined a maximum of $2,000 as well as serve 180 days in jail. Whether one pays the fine or goes to jail, they remain with a permanent criminal record that can affect them for life.

While Texas is known for being conservative, there is growing consensus that cannabis laws need to be reformed, and that is why the decriminalization bill has bipartisan support. People want to see the meager public resources devoted to more serious crimes instead of using those resources to prosecute people for minor cannabis possession infractions.

This change of heart among conservative Texans has seen various bills get House Committee approval. The decriminalization bill is one of the three most notable cannabis reform bills.

The second bill that passed at committee level is a bill to legalize industrial hemp and its derivatives. This bill was passed on Tuesday this week. If it becomes law, hemp would no longer be a controlled substance in the state.

A third bill seeks to expand the medical marijuana program in the state. This bill got unanimous support when a vote was called last week. One of the changes introduced by this bill included adding more than a dozen health conditions to the list of medical marijuana qualifying conditions.

All these three bills were supported by the Republicans in those different committees. Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has also promised to sign the bills once they reach his desk after getting legislative approval.

This piecemeal way of easing marijuana laws may eventually culminate in the legalization of recreational marijuana in Texas, although the Republican Party hasn’t explicitly stated that it supports legalization in the state.

Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS), Youngevity International Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) and the entire cannabis industry welcome the incremental cannabis policy reforms being instituted in Texas. Such an approach ensures that there will be minimal friction in implementing the changes needed for Texans to benefit fully from the cannabis industry.

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

For more information please visit https://www.CNW420.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with CNW420? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire420
Denver, Colorado
http://www.CNW420.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com