Texas Lawmakers Mulling Over Lighter Marijuana Penalties

There is hope for faithful smokers, that stiff marijuana penalties may be lightened.

During a meeting Tuesday, in Austin, Texas, lawmakers discussed a new bill. If a person is in possession with an ounce or less of marijuana, the charge would be a class C misdemeanor. He or she would pay a $500 fine and flee jail time.

As of now, getting caught with up to two ounces of cannabis is a class B misdemeanor. The offender must pay a $2,000 fine; spend six months in jail, and receive suspension of a driver’s license.

In Texas about 80,000 residents are arrested for marijuana violations.