Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Texans who are arrested for possessing small amounts of marijuana shouldn't be locked out of jobs and haunted by minor lapses in judgment for the rest of their lives, business and legislative leaders say.
As acceptance of marijuana - medical and otherwise - grows nationally and in Texas, members of both major political parties in the Legislature have staked out positions supporting the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana. The proposed change could be beneficial for Texas businesses, proponents have said.
State Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, told the American-Statesman that too many Texans have missed out on jobs because of criminal records that involve nonviolent drug charges. Isaac said he plans to support decriminalization bills in the upcoming legislative session, which will begin in January, to make sure more Texans can get jobs and not face a lifetime with the stigma of a criminal conviction.
"They are branded that way forever, and that should not be the case," he said.
Isaac said the issue also has an economic development aspect. Isaac has spoken with frustrated managers who cannot hire people with drug convictions, and he has seen applicants turned away for minor, nonviolent pot possession charges, he said.
Isaac not only would like to improve the situation going forward; he prefers to pass something to help people who already have convictions, he said.
"Ideally, you'd like it to be retroactive," he said.
More Texans without jobs leads to more dependency on state resources, he said.
"It may make them more dependent on the government," he said, "and that is the last thing that we want."
State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, has been a vocal proponent in the Legislature for decriminalization and says he intends to push legislation again in 2017.
In 2015, Moody filed a measure to remove criminal penalties for possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana and make possession a finable offense. He said he will file the same bill in the coming session. His version includes community service and counseling for arrestees.
Even if decriminalization occurs, companies are under no obligation to ignore tickets for possession of pot, and they could still decide not to hire an applicant based on a marijuana citation.
"Drug convictions and things like this are going to derail them," Moody said. "If you create an unemployable class on young people, that necessarily would create a negative impact on the economy as whole."
Moody and other lawmakers chasing decriminalization legislation can expect to have a powerful ally in their fight. The Texas Association of Business supports reducing penalties for nonviolent minor crimes.
"Possession of small amounts of marijuana should be a ticketing offense," said Bill Hammond, the association's president and CEO.
It is "ridiculous" to arrest and incarcerate people for minor offenses, he said.
Cathy DeWitt, the association's vice president of governmental affairs, said minor convictions often prove to be "barriers to employment."
DeWitt said decriminalization of marijuana possession would lead to a larger pool of potential job candidates.
It is unclear how Gov. Greg Abbott would react to a decriminalization bill, if the Legislature approves one.
A spokesman for Abbott noted recently that the governor said during the 2015 signing of Senate Bill 339, which allowed for the narrow use of a marijuana-derived treatment for epilepsy, that he reaffirmed his conviction to keep marijuana illegal in Texas.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Decriminalizing Marijuana Could Be Good For Texas Business
Author: Tim Eaton
Contact: 1-800-445-9898
Photo Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell
Website: My Statesman
As acceptance of marijuana - medical and otherwise - grows nationally and in Texas, members of both major political parties in the Legislature have staked out positions supporting the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana. The proposed change could be beneficial for Texas businesses, proponents have said.
State Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, told the American-Statesman that too many Texans have missed out on jobs because of criminal records that involve nonviolent drug charges. Isaac said he plans to support decriminalization bills in the upcoming legislative session, which will begin in January, to make sure more Texans can get jobs and not face a lifetime with the stigma of a criminal conviction.
"They are branded that way forever, and that should not be the case," he said.
Isaac said the issue also has an economic development aspect. Isaac has spoken with frustrated managers who cannot hire people with drug convictions, and he has seen applicants turned away for minor, nonviolent pot possession charges, he said.
Isaac not only would like to improve the situation going forward; he prefers to pass something to help people who already have convictions, he said.
"Ideally, you'd like it to be retroactive," he said.
More Texans without jobs leads to more dependency on state resources, he said.
"It may make them more dependent on the government," he said, "and that is the last thing that we want."
State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, has been a vocal proponent in the Legislature for decriminalization and says he intends to push legislation again in 2017.
In 2015, Moody filed a measure to remove criminal penalties for possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana and make possession a finable offense. He said he will file the same bill in the coming session. His version includes community service and counseling for arrestees.
Even if decriminalization occurs, companies are under no obligation to ignore tickets for possession of pot, and they could still decide not to hire an applicant based on a marijuana citation.
"Drug convictions and things like this are going to derail them," Moody said. "If you create an unemployable class on young people, that necessarily would create a negative impact on the economy as whole."
Moody and other lawmakers chasing decriminalization legislation can expect to have a powerful ally in their fight. The Texas Association of Business supports reducing penalties for nonviolent minor crimes.
"Possession of small amounts of marijuana should be a ticketing offense," said Bill Hammond, the association's president and CEO.
It is "ridiculous" to arrest and incarcerate people for minor offenses, he said.
Cathy DeWitt, the association's vice president of governmental affairs, said minor convictions often prove to be "barriers to employment."
DeWitt said decriminalization of marijuana possession would lead to a larger pool of potential job candidates.
It is unclear how Gov. Greg Abbott would react to a decriminalization bill, if the Legislature approves one.
A spokesman for Abbott noted recently that the governor said during the 2015 signing of Senate Bill 339, which allowed for the narrow use of a marijuana-derived treatment for epilepsy, that he reaffirmed his conviction to keep marijuana illegal in Texas.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Decriminalizing Marijuana Could Be Good For Texas Business
Author: Tim Eaton
Contact: 1-800-445-9898
Photo Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell
Website: My Statesman
