The top law enforcement officers in the state?s most populous city and the biggest county in Texas are set to declare a brand new policy about how they?ll deal with those caught with small quantities of pot.
Proponents of the policy say that it?ll reduce court dockets and free-up law enforcement time and jail space for detaining and prosecuting offenders who pose a larger risk to the community. In addition they contend that giving someone a criminal record for possession of small amounts of marijuana impacts their capability to get education, particular employment, and ?other opportunities?stigmatizing them.
Adversaries of the more lenient policy say that law enforcement and public officials don?t have the discretion to disregard the laws on the books in Texas.
