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Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Image 2 of 30 <b>Arizona:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Arizona:</b> Legalized medical use Image 3 of 30 <b>California:</b> Legalized medical use <b>California:</b> Legalized medical use Image 4 of 30 <b>Colorado:</b> Legalized medical and recreational use <b>Colorado:</b> Legalized medical and recreational use Image 5 of 30 Image 6 of 30 <b>Connecticut:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Connecticut:</b> Legalized medical use Image 7 of 30 <b>Delaware:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Delaware:</b> Legalized medical use Image 8 of 30 <b>Florida:</b> Ballot initiative rejected <b>Florida:</b> Ballot initiative rejected Image 9 of 30 <b>Hawaii:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Hawaii:</b> Legalized medical use Image 10 of 30 Image 11 of 30 <b>Illinois:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Illinois:</b> Legalized medical use Image 12 of 30 <b>Maine:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Maine:</b> Legalized medical use Image 13 of 30 <b>Massachusetts:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Massachusetts:</b> Legalized medical use Image 14 of 30 <b>Michigan:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Michigan:</b> Legalized medical use Image 15 of 30 Image 16 of 30 <b>Minnesota:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Minnesota:</b> Legalized medical use Image 17 of 30 <b>Montana:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Montana:</b> Legalized medical use Image 18 of 30 <b>Nevada:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Nevada:</b> Legalized medical use Image 19 of 30 <b>New Hampshire:</b> Legalized medical use <b>New Hampshire:</b> Legalized medical use Image 20 of 30 Image 21 of 30 <b>New Jersey:</b> Legalized medical use <b>New Jersey:</b> Legalized medical use Image 22 of 30 <b>New Mexico:</b> Legalized medical use <b>New Mexico:</b> Legalized medical use Image 23 of 30 <b>New York:</b> Legalized medical use <b>New York:</b> Legalized medical use Image 24 of 30 <b>Oregon:</b> Legalized medical and recreational use <b>Oregon:</b> Legalized medical and recreational use Image 25 of 30 Image 26 of 30 <b>Rhode Island:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Rhode Island:</b> Legalized medical use Image 27 of 30 <b>Vermont:</b> Legalized medical use <b>Vermont:</b> Legalized medical use Image 28 of 30 <b>Washington:</b> Legalized medical and recreational use <b>Washington:</b> Legalized medical and recreational use Image 29 of 30 <b>Washington D.C.:</b> Legalized medical and recreational use <b>Washington D.C.:</b> Legalized medical and recreational use Image 30 of 30 Coalition introduces bill to reduce penalties for marijuana possession 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — A coalition of liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans introduced a proposal Monday to make possession of a small amount of marijuana in Texas a civil infraction, instead of a crime.

House Bill 507, filed by state Rep. Joe Moody, would make those caught with an ounce of pot or less subject only to a $100 fine. Currently, some of those people could face up to six months in jail, a fine of up to to $2,000 and a criminal record.

Moody, D-El Paso, said during a news conference at the Capitol that the change would save thousands of mostly-minority Texans from a lifetime record while saving money through reduced jail costs. Similar moves in other states have shown that the policy would not increase marijuana usage, he said.

“A civil penalty is good government, and good government is always good for Texas,” Moody said.

Ann Lee, executive director of the Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition, agreed, arguing that reducing penalties for drug violations is in line with the philosophy of conservatives who “stand for freedom.”

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have taken jail time off the table for those caught with small amounts of marijuana, according to the coalition, but similar efforts have failed in Texas in the past. Any relaxation of marijuana laws will start as a longshot in next year’s legislative session, in part due to fierce opposition from law enforcement groups.

Sheriff Chris Kirk, a spokesman for the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, told the Houston Chronicle last month that, “the sheriffs of Texas are going to bring all their influence to try to stop the legalization of marijuana at any level” next session.

Still, members of the coalition expressed confidence during the news conference. Moody said he has only heard positive feedback.

“I haven’t heard a lot of the push back that you might expect,” he said.

Brian M. Rosenthal is a reporter in the Austin bureau of the Houston Chronicle. Contact him at brian.rosenthal@chron.com or on Twitter @brianmrosenthal