The Harris County District Attorney’s race took a surprising turn when Republican incumbent Devon Anderson followed her Democratic competitor’s lead and announced plans to lessen penalties for first time marijuana offenses.
Assistant Editor/Staff Reporter
Anderson made the announcement in a speech on the first of this month. Starting on October 6th, first time nonviolent offenders caught with under two ounces of marijuana will be given the opportunity to avoid jail time by performing eight hours of community service or participating in a drug awareness program.
“We are targeting the people we believe are self-correcting and will be ‘scared straight’ by being handcuffed and transported,” she stated. “Our goal is to keep these individuals from entering the revolving door of the criminal justice system.”