Republican Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Tuesday he won't support reducing penalties for small amounts of marijuana, calling it "a step toward legalization."

Patrick's opposition Tuesday followed a historic vote in the GOP-controlled Texas House to make possession of an ounce or less of the drug to a Class C misdemeanor.

Patrick, the Senate leader, called the bill "dead."

His disapproval underscores the resistance by Texas GOP leaders to relaxing marijuana laws even as the drug becomes increasingly legal elsewhere in the U.S.

A Democrat who originally pushed a decriminalization bill said political realities in the Texas Capitol forced him to weaken his measure ahead of the House vote.

Gov. Greg Abbott signaled his support last year for reducing penalties to a lower misdemeanor but stopped short of publicly endorsing decriminalization.

The bill that passed the Texas House by a 98-43 vote Monday is a milestone in Texas, where GOP leaders have been resistant to relaxing marijuana laws.

Lawmakers say it would help save resources for law enforcement and keep low-level offenders out of the criminal justice system.

Democrat Rep. Joe Moody changed his original bill that would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of pot.

.