Watch Live: Key Congressional Committee to Vote on Marijuana Banking Bill

A committee of the Texas House of Representatives approved Monday a bill on the decriminalization of marijuana, which would make simple possession punishable by a fine, without jail time and without having to consult his criminal record.

The bill was passed by 5 votes to 2 of the Criminal Justice Committee and is now moving to a separate group to place the bills on the calendar for ground debates.

Possession of one ounce or less of cannabis would be punishable by a fine of $ 250 for the first two offenses. After that, possession would be considered a class C offense, which remains a less severe punishment than the one in force. In the current state of affairs, possession of two ounces or less is a class B offense punishable by a fine of up to $ 2,000 and a maximum sentence of 180 years. days as well as a permanent criminal record, which entails significant collateral consequences.

Earlier this month, the committee held a hearing on the bill and heard testimony on the long-term consequences of a conviction for low-grade cannabis trafficking in the case of a person and on the fact that the removal of criminal penalties applicable to possession may release resources from the law for the officers to tackle more serious crimes.

Proponents hope that the entire House will adopt the modest reform measure, even as the legislator is considering other cannabis-related policies, such as expanding the state's limited marijuana program for medical purposes.

# HB63 pass 5-2! Take steps to make sure your legislator signs this important information. Http: //t.co/tbOTeNf3oY https://t.co/tbOTeNf3oY

– Texas NORML (@TexasNORML) March 25, 2019

"We are very optimistic about the chances of HB 63 spreading in Texas House," said Heather Fazio, director of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, in Marijuana Moment. "Overall, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that we should not waste valuable criminal justice resources to stop and prosecute people for small amounts of marijuana. Texas is ready. "

Although the expansion of cannabis for medical purposes, let alone the legalization of adult use, remains a dubious prospect in the conservative fortress, removing the threat of jail time for possession has gained popularity among Texas Republicans. The Texas Republican Party delegates adopted a platform last year that endorses for example the decriminalization of marijuana.

"We support a change in the law so that having one ounce or less of marijuana for personal use becomes a civil, not a criminal offense. It is punishable by a fine of up to $ 100, but without the penalty of imprisonment. Says the board.

In addition, the policy was even given the go-ahead by Governor Greg Abbott (MD), who said he was open to legislation that would reduce the penalties for simple possession.

In a governorship debate last year, the abbot said he did not want to see "prisons stored with people who had small amounts of marijuana" and launched the idea of ​​reducing fine for possession of class B marijuana for a class C offense.

According to Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, there are currently 32 authors or co-authors in the legislation.

Connecticut lawmakers approve marijuana legalization bill at key committee

Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan.