Republicans certain to oppose
The Texas Democratic Party has adopted a plank calling for the decriminalization of marijuana in the state, 1200 WOAI news reports.
Newly elected party chair Gilberto Hinojosa tells 1200 WOAI news it makes no sense for the state to use valuable law enforcement and court funding to punish a person for having a joint in his pocket or in her purse.
"And it will affect their ability to get jobs, it will affect their ability to have a meaningful career," Hinojosa said.
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WORDING OF MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION PROPOSAL:
This decriminalization of marijuana does not mean we endorse the use of marijuana but it is only a call to wiser use of law enforcement and public health policy. Prohibition of marijuana abdicates the control of marijuana production and distribution to drug cartels and street gangs. Such prohibition promotes disrespect for the law and reinforces ethnic and generational divides between the public and law enforcement.
Every year, hundreds and thousands of Americans are arrested for marijuana possession violations- far more than all those arrested for violent crimes in America. Societal costs dealing with the war on drugs concerning marijuana exceeds 12 billion dollars annually. Since the war on drugs began, 85% of the arrests for marijuana have been for possession only.
Marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol or tobacco. Recent polls show over 50% of Americans believe marijuana should be decriminalized. While arrests for marijuana since 1965 have been over 20 million citizens, marijuana is more prevalent than ever before.
There is no evidence that marijuana is a “gateway” drug leading to the use of more lethal drugs. 75% of citizens arrested for marijuana are under 30. Minorities account for a majority of those arrested for marijuana. Criminal conviction permanently scars a young citizen for life.
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Hinojosa says the party does not support the legalization of marijuana, but does support decriminalization, which calls for regulation of marijuana similar to the regulations currently in place for substances like alcohol, and would, like alcohol, regulate the places marijuana could be consumed, limit its consumption to people of a certain age, and would impose penalties for its possession at no more than a 'Class C' misdemeanor, similar to a traffic ticket.
Austin political analyst John Weekley says the move is also politically savvy, because it will convince more young voters to go to the polls to support the measure, and while a the polls, they are likely to support President Obama's re-election.
"You will really turn out more of the younger vote than you would otherwise, with a marijuana issue on the ballot," he said.
The measure also calls on the state to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and calls on President Obama to respect state laws on marijuana use, and to stop Justice Department raids on medical marijuana operations and the arrest on federal charges of people who are using marijuana in accordance with state law.
Any attempts to decriminalize or legalize marijuana are expected to be opposed by the dominant Texas Republican Party. Majority Republicans in the Legislature killed a medical marijuana bill in the last session.
