We are starting to see some more reasonable attitudes regarding marijuana here in the United States. Many states have stopped jailing people for the possession of a small amount of marijuana (making it an offense similar to a traffic offense where only a ticket is issued) -- and two states have gone so far as to legalize the recreational use of marijuana (Colorado and Washington).The truth is that marijuana is the least dangerous of all drugs. It does not cause death or addiction, and is far less dangerous than most legal drugs (including tobacco and alcohol). Some who admit marijuana is not harmful say it should not be legalized because people would drive under the influence of it and endanger others. The problem with that argument is that several studies have shown that people driving after using marijuana are no more dangerous than people under the influence of no drug at all.
The only reason it is still illegal in many states and could result in a stiff jail sentence is because too many politicians have built their careers on being virulently anti-drug, and don't want to embarrass themselves by admitting they were wrong about at least one of those drugs (marijuana). Texas is a prime example of that. Possession of less than 2 ounces in Texas can get a person up to six months in jail (and be fined $2000) -- and possession, not sale, of slightly more than that will result in a prison sentence. About 70,000 people are arrested in Texas (and jailed) for marijuana use each year.
But there is at least one politician in the Lone Star State that knows Texas' marijuana laws are archaic and ridiculous, and make criminals of people who have done no harm to anyone (including themselves). State Representative Harold Dutton has introduced a bill in the Texas Legislature that would prevent those possessing less than an ounce of marijuana from being jailed for any length of time. It would make that possession a class C misdemeanor, subject to a fine of up to $500 (but no jail time).
The bill is a rather timid effort. There should be no fine at all. But this is Texas, and for this backward state, Dutton's bill would be a big step forward. Unfortunately, Texas is still ruled by teabagger Republicans so I doubt this good bill will ever get out of committee, let alone make it to the House floor for a vote. But every journey must start with a small step, and Dutton's bill may just be that small first step on the journey to sensible marijuana laws in Texas. I hope so.
