Harris County, the most populous county in Texas, made significant strides in marijuana decriminalization by reducing the penalties for possession of small amounts in 2013. Despite this progress, other areas like Dallas County have been slower to adapt, with proposals for similar measures being rejected.
Marijuana advocates seek to provide a medical outlet to those who could benefit from it, as well as allow for recreational use. Legal marijuana would provide many common sense solutions to unnecessary problems that we face in Texas. Given our very large border with Mexico, many of the drugs coming from South America are trafficked through here. Marijuana is the most trafficked drug, so regulation would cut down on this tremendously. Another benefit to legalization would more tax revenue being put into the states tax revenue. There are two ways that this will be accomplished. The first is that there will be less convictions, therefor less people having their lives subsidized by the government. The second is tax revenue coming from the sale of marijuana. Observing Colorado's tax revenue data from the sale of weed. Nearly 1 billion dollars was generated just in the year of 2015. Obviously if it was legal statewide, revenue wouldn't amount to that, but it would undoubtedly be very profitable.
What steps have been made to end marijuana prohibition in Texas?
Harris County was the first county in texas to decriminalize marijuana. In 2013, the county lowered the penalty of marijuana possession under 2 ounces. This is a large step forward for decriminalization in metropolitan Texas, as it is the largest county in the state. For perspective, its 4 million+ population is larger than the entire state of Oregon.
Although Dallas county shot down this proposal in 2014, many on the police force are in support with the proposition.
Small Advocacy groups: Collective advocacy groups across the state, like the Marijuana Policy Project caucus at rallies and events to sway the voters of policy makes in Austin. While groups like these have large amount of support, advancements can't be made until the mind of these individuals, or federal policy is changed.
Texas lawmakers and Officials: While proponents for the end of marijuana prohibition, the final verdict comes down to the government officials. During the signing of the Compassionate Use Act, Texas Governor Greg Abbott had this to say:“I remain convinced that Texas should not legalize marijuana, nor should Texas open the door for conventional marijuana to be used for medical or medicinal purposes and as governor I will not allow it.". An organization named Sheriffs Association of Texas is another anti-marijuana group. Their website is complete with sophistry and slanderous information about marijuana.
When was marijuana criminalized in Texas?
beginning with the Harrison Act of 1914, the U.S. federally banned marijuana. 35 States, including Texas followed suit and immediately instituted an outright ban. This didn't have many real results though, because police weren't able to detain those who had committed the crime. The ones caught simply had to report their possession to the IRS. The Uniform State Drug Act of 1934 was implemented shortly after due to lack of results from the Harrison Act. It also ensured that all states shared the same Narcotic ban.
