As of September 1, people caught with up to a quarter-pound of marijuana in Texas will no longer automatically be arrested. Under HB 2391, a bill passed by the legislature and signed into law June 15 by Gov. Rick Perry (R), police will have the option of issuing a summons to appear for misdemeanor pot possession, as well as a number of other small-time offenses.

The measure was pushed by conservative legislators as a cost-cutting measure. "We want to get tough on crime, but we also want to get smart on crime," said state Rep. Jerry Madden (R), the bill's author. "Let's not spend a lot of taxpayers' money putting people in jail who don't need to be there," Madden told Fort Worth Star-Telegraph columnist Bud Kennedy last Saturday. "Let's give local police more discretion."

Possession of marijuana remains a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. But now, instead of using up valuable police time and jail space with marijuana and other misdemeanor offenders, police will have the discretion of just ordering them to show up before a magistrate within 48 hours. If they don't show, the magistrate can issue an arrest warrant.

Other offenses for which police can now issue summonses include petty theft, graffiti, and driving without a license.

"The idea was to free up more county jail space and law officers' time for violent offenders and sex offenders," said Marc Levin of the Austin-based Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative organization that lobbied for House Bill 2391. "We looked at how to save counties money. We always came back to the same answer: Take the low-level offenders out of the county jail," he told Kennedy.

Leave it to Texas to wise up about criminal justices priorities, even if just a bit. And it wasn't bleeding hearts, but bleating wallets that did it.

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The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. United State Constitution, Art. I Sec. 9 Par. 2

"Dissent is the Highest form of Patriotism" -- Howard Zinn

Here is a link to it on the Texas Legislature webpage.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillL...0R&Bill=HB2391

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The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. United State Constitution, Art. I Sec. 9 Par. 2

"Dissent is the Highest form of Patriotism" -- Howard Zinn

Cool glad to here more progess here, maybe the medical bill will pass i wrote the officals.

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And I hope Nile Young will remember,
A Southern Man don't need him around any how!

Quite a change from "life" for possession of 1 joint in the '60's. I read the dudes interview in playboy in the '70's, he was doin life for 1 joint in Texas. Don't remember all the circumstances, but I certainly stayed out of texas with all my weed.

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Life is good, the water is sweet. The ground keeps moving beneath my feet.

New Mexico is going to start allowing Medical marijuana in July, that is eleven or 12 states now.

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May Peace and Joy be your companions.
Roseman's DIY Bubbleponics Tutorial - Marijuana Growing
Pics of OLD Grow on this Page

its a step in the right direction

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Go Medicate Yourself..... Then we will Talk

In some place's they where wanting the Death Pent back in the 40's for possion.

__________________
And I hope Nile Young will remember,
A Southern Man don't need him around any how!

The extenuating circumstance in that case, Med, was the guy was Black. If I remember correctly, he had a small matchbox of pot on him. Couldn't have been more than an eighth ... probably a lot less even. So, back in the day in Texas, Black + a joint or two equaled life. Bet that wouldn't have happened if the guy was Bubba the Sheriff's son.

Also, back in the 60's there was a billboard just across the California line into Nevada on the road to Las Vegas that read: "Don't gamble with marijuana in Nevada. Possession 20 years ... Sales, life!

Vi

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Liberals are people that will believe anything twice.

Wow, that is quite a big leap. I recently asked norml of the status of HB 758(the one decriminalizing up to an ounce). And I heard that that one had a snowball's chance in hell of getting passed. But now I see that this state isn't being it's 'Hard Ass" self anymore. I'm glad to see thuis kind of stuff happening, now if only they'd make some bills like this regarding growing. Unfortunately I don't think either 758 or this current one cover the growing of cannabis.

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Rep me if I help.
It's the scale at the top right of my post(for newbies)

growing in tx isn't anything different then possession legally yet so thats another one for Texas.

__________________
And I hope Nile Young will remember,
A Southern Man don't need him around any how!