Known for its detrimental effects and profound impact (over 280 billion) in costs, gun violence has been a controversial issue that has reached Supreme Court level. The subject itself is complex...

On Dec. 15, State Rep. Joseph “Joe” Moody, D-El Paso filed House Bill 507 which, if passed, would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana in Texas. The bill would make possession of an ounce or less a civil—not a criminal—offense with a penalty of no more than $100. Offenders would be brought to court by a citation rather than by arrest, and they would not receive a criminal record. The bill’s author, Rep. Moody noted that, “It’s not going to legalize anything. It changes the way we sanction for small amounts of Marijuana.”