AUSTIN — So far this legislative session, 11 bills and resolutions have been filed in the Texas Capitol regarding marijuana and cannabis.
All filed this month in the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives, some relate to civil and criminal penalties for marijuana and possession, while others deal with cannabis and its use for medicinal purposes.
Identical bills filed in the House and Senate, by El Paso Democrats Rep. Joe Moody and Sen. José Rodriguez respectively, would decriminalize possession of an ounce or less of marijuana. Under the proposed legislation, that would carry a fine of up to $250, instead of a misdemeanor charge.
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On the medicinal front, identical bills filed by San Antonio Democrat Sen. José Menéndez and Houston-area Democrat Rep. Ron Reynolds would broaden the range of conditions medicinal cannabis can be used to treat. Current law limits its use to intractable epilepsy. Menéndez' and Reynolds' bills would include cancer, glaucoma, HIV and AIDS, PTSD, autism and a variety of other conditions.
Austin Democrat Rep. Gina Hinojosa has also proposed medical marijuana legislation. Her bill would establish an affirmative defense to prosecution for possession of marijuana if the person is a patient who has been prescribed marijuana for medical use.
Here's a rundown on each:
Author: Sen. José Rodríguez
Filed: 11/12/2018
Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize and regulate the possession, cultivation and sale of cannabis for medical use.
Author: Sen. José Rodríguez
Filed: 11/12/2018
Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize and regulate the possession, cultivation and sale of cannabis.
Author: Sen. José Menéndez
Filed: 11/12/2018
Relating to authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, transportation and delivery of medical cannabis for medical use by qualifying patients with certain debilitating medical conditions and the licensing of dispensing organizations and testing facilities; authorizing fees.
Author: Sen. José Rodríguez
Filed: 11/12/2018
Relating to the civil and criminal penalties for possession of certain small amounts of marijuana and an exception to prosecution for possession of associated drug paraphernalia; creating a criminal offense.
Author: Rep. Ron Reynolds
Filed: 11/12/2018
Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize and regulate the possession, cultivation and sale of cannabis for medical use.
Author: Rep. Joe Moody
Filed: 11/12/2018
Relating to the civil and criminal penalties for possession of certain small amounts of marijuana and an exception to prosecution for possession of associated drug paraphernalia; creating a criminal offense.
Author: Rep Gina Hinojosa
Filed: 11/12/2018
Relating to the medical use of marijuana; providing an affirmative defense to prosecution for possession of marijuana.
Author: Rep. Terry Canales
Filed: 11/12/2018
Relating to the determination of the weight of marijuana and other tetrahydrocannabinols for the purpose of the prosecution and punishment of the offense of possession of those substances.
Author: Rep. Ron Reynolds
Filed: 11/12/2018
Relating to authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, transportation and delivery of medical cannabis for medical use by qualifying patients with certain debilitating medical conditions and the licensing of dispensing organizations and testing facilities; authorizing fees.
Author: Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr.
Filed: 11/13/2018
Relating to the penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana and eligibility for placement on community supervision or on deferred adjudication community supervision for that offense.
Author: Rep. Alma A. Allen
Filed: 11/15/2018
Relating to the prosecution of and penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana.
House Bill 551 and House Bill 753 were also filed on later dates.