Texas House Approves Lower Pot Possession Penalties

(Austin, TX) — Texas lawmakers are moving to reduce penalties for marijuana possession.

Late Monday afternoon the Texas House approved a bill that would make possession of less than an ounce of weed a Class C misdemeanor. That would bring the same penalty as traffic tickets. The bill also would let people ticketed for minor pot possession seek to have the conviction cleared after a year.

The bill now goes to the state Senate where Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick controls the agenda. Patrick said last month he strongly opposes weakening any laws against marijuana.