Texans debate marijuana laws

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Amidst national debate over the efficacy and need for marijuana laws since legislatures and citizens in 21 states and Washington, D.C. have acted to either legalize marijuana outright, with regulations and taxes similar to alcohol, or for medical use, some wonder where Texas fits in to this picture. An advocate for reforming marijuana laws and law enforcement officials weighed in on the issue.

Allen Vogel is one of the organizers of the “reeferendum” that hinges on a vote for Jamie Balagia, Libertarian Party candidate for attorney general, on Nov. 4. Vogel is co-organizer of the Medical and Personal Freedom Political Action Committee supporting Balagia’s campaign.

Balagia, a defense attorney former Austin police officer, is running against Republican Ken Paxton, Democrat Sam Houston, and Green Party member Jamar Osborne.

Unlike many other states, especially in the West, Texas voters do not have the option of calling statewide referendums to make their preferences known, which led to the Balagia-approved “reeferendum.”

National and state poll results reveal trends

As opinions about marijuana laws have undergone a sea change on a national level, law enforcement perspectives have not budged. A February national poll by the Pew Research Center showed only16 percent of Americans thought marijuana should remain illegal. Almost 40 percent said it should be “legal for personal use,” and another 44 percent said “it should be legal for medical use only.”

“I’m not for legalization or decriminalization,” said Captain Dwight Hardin of the Burnet County Sheriff’s Department. Hardin has been with the sheriff’s department since 2006 and he has 36 years in law enforcement, including experience in undercover narcotics operations.

“The public perception about marijuana has eased up over the years,” Hardin acknowledged, “But our position in law enforcement is that if it’s against the law, we’re going to enforce laws on the books.”

Pew Research Center polls show the shift in American opinions about marijuana: In February, 2014, 54 percent of Americans said marijuana should be “made legal,” as opposed to the 41 percent who answered that way in March, 2010.

Opinions in Texas are also shifting, with 61 percent supporting making possession of small amounts of marijuana a civil, rather than criminal, offense. 

For the complete debate, see Friday's Highlander.