Texas marijuana bill gets a serious mellow — but high penalties for possession could still come downTexas marijuana bill gets a serious mellow — but high penalties for possession could still come down

Texas marijuana bill gets a serious mellow — but high penalties for possession could still come down
A bill that would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana in Texas has been substantially rewritten — on the day before its scheduled debate — to increase its chances of becoming law.

As proposed, House Bill 63 would have removed the current penalty for getting caught with an ounce or less of marijuana and replaced it with a $250 fine. But late Wednesday, Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, filed an amended version of the legislation. The new version would lessen penalties for possession of small amounts of pot, instead of removing them altogether, while making it easier to avoid a criminal record.

Essentially, marijuana possession would remain a crime but with far fewer of the current consequences. The changes were necessary, Moody said, to overcome opposition to the bill.

A bill that would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana in Texas has been substantially rewritten — on the day before its scheduled debate — to increase its chances of becoming law.

As proposed, House Bill 63 would have removed the current penalty for getting caught with an ounce or less of marijuana and replaced it with a $250 fine. But late Wednesday, Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, filed an amended version of the legislation. The new version would lessen penalties for possession of small amounts of pot, instead of removing them altogether, while making it easier to avoid a criminal record.

Essentially, marijuana possession would remain a crime but with far fewer of the current consequences. The changes were necessary, Moody said, to overcome opposition to the bill.