Texas Legislative Committee Green-lights Legalization of Marijuana Use

The Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee reportedly has approved legislation allowing the buying and selling of marijuana.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee has approved legislation allowing the buying and selling of marijuana, according to media reports.

“In a surprise move that supporters hailed as a historic victory, the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee approved legislation Wednesday that would make it legal to buy and sell marijuana in the state,” The Houston Chronicle reported on Wednesday.

The support for House Bill 2165 came as a result of two Republicans joining the panel‘s three Democrats, giving the bill a 5-2 victory.

The proposal makes Texas the fifth US state to approve marijuana for recreational purposes, but is unlikely it will become a law in this year’s legislative session, local media said.

This move came two days after the same panel voted 4-2 to decriminalize marijuana, making it the first time ever such a piece of legislation was approved by a Texas legislative committee.

The final vote, local media said, came after the committee made clear marijuana should still be illegal for minors to consume, except with parental guidance.

The legislation now moves to the state House floor calendar, local media added.

On April 15, 2015, US legislators introduced the Compassionate Access Act, which would make medical marijuana treatments available for patients, including sick children.