It makes sense, right?  With thousands of people arrested for possession of small amounts of marijuana in Houston every year, this would reduce the overcrowding in the jails, making room for the more serious offenders.  Not to mention, it would stop criminalizing a crime that is only malum prohibidum (only because of a prohibition), not malum in se (wrong in of itself).

Ogg also noted that in a time when budgets for the County are tight and the Economy is shaky, it would save as much as 10 million dollars a year to be used on other things.  Is it really an intelligent use of our resources to send it locking up people for doing something in this state that someone and other states can now do with impunity (see Colorado and Washington and recreational use legalization)?  Ogg thinks not.

Now for some statistics: in 2013, more than 12,000 people in Harris County were charged in with marijuana possession of less than 4 ounces.  On average these “criminals” in possession of the demon weed were put behind bars for an average of five days.

The cost to taxpayers? $4.4 million a year.

Kim Ogg’s plan (if she is elected this November) would be to divert those suspected of misdemeanor possession into alternative punishments that would include a citation, being required to appear in court (like a traffic ticket), and being given two days of community service work, like cleaning up litter.   The icing on the cake?  If successfully completed, offenders would not have a conviction on their record.

“This is the future of marijuana prosecution in Harris County,” she said “Our tagline is ‘No jail, no bail, no permanent record, if you earn it.'”

She said the entire workforce could be used for “Clean and Green,” a program in which volunteers clean up garbage in the area’s bayous.

I am a card carrying libertarian, so I try not to get caught up in the political fray (mainly because I think both sides have fatal flaws to their positions).  BUT, this is very promising, and I sincerely hope that Ogg is elected this November.  It’s about time someone made marijuana law more reasonable in Houston.

Arrested for Possession of Marijuana?

Arrested for Driving under the influence of drugs?

If you’ve been accused of any offense involving Marijuana (including possession of Marijuana) or any drug crime,  contact attorney Tristan LeGrande by calling 281-684-3500.

http://www.legrandelaw.com

http://www.houstondrugattorney.net

Houston Drug Attorney Tristan LeGrande

I

Finally, a Texas candidate talking reasonably about Marijuana reform in Texas.

However, according to DA Lehmberg, Mr. Brand was let go after making racially offensive comments in court that were so volatile they caused the judge in the case to release an entire jury panel.  Brand contends his sudden termination stemmed not from the statements, but

Former prosecutor Steve Brand, left, and defense lawyer Jon Evans, right, confer at the bench with Judge Julie Kocurek in the capital murder trial of Darius Lovings.

from his cooperation in the police investigations against detective Anthony Nelson, who Brand said was untruthful on the stand during a murder trial in January.

Lehmberg has declined comment on the allegations. The Lawsuit Brand filed is a whistleblower complaint, claiming Lehmberg asked Brand to downplay false testimony Nelson gave in the trial of Darius Lovings, a man convicted of killing a motorist who authorities said tried to help Lovings when Loving pretended to have car trouble.  Nelson told prosecutors that he had lost control of the crime scene that night and asked that they keep it “just between us,” according to the complaint.

Brand reported the statement to Lovings’ lawyer, Jon Evans, considering it evidence favorable to the defense and therefore that he was legally bound to divulge.  On the witness stand in trial, Nelson admitted he lost control of the scene but denied “having asked Brand to keep the admission ‘between us,’” according to the documents.

Brand alleges Lehmberg told him multiple times that the incident — which led police to initiate two separate internal investigations — had been “blown out of proportion.”  In a statement, the Texas Department of Public Safety said, “The Austin Police Department did contact the Texas Rangers, who conducted an inquiry related to the Travis County district attorney’s office in early April to determine if a full investigation was warranted. The Rangers determined further investigation was not warranted and that a criminal offense had not been committed. The inquiry was then closed.”

Brand’s lawyer, Tom Nesbitt, claims his client was wrongfully terminated.  “He cooperated in a police investigation,” Nesbitt said. “He resisted Rosemary Lehmberg’s attempt to influence what he would say in that investigation, and he was retaliated against.”

This is a glaring example of the culture of lying, dishonesty and cover-ups that unfortunately has overtaken the District Attorneys office in Travis County under the direction of DA Lehmberg.  This was not just a simple mistake.  False testimony by an officer never is.  It certainly is not “no big deal.”  Reports state that DA Lehmberg has said Brand’s termination was because he doesn’t share her values.   With this lawsuit, I predict that we will uncoverjust what are Rosemary Lehmberg’s values, and it will not be pretty.

District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg…

where do I remember her from?

Isn’t she the Travis County District Attorney that was recently arrested for a DWI?

YES…YES SHE WAS [A video of the booking of DA Lehmberg for your viewing pleasure.]

Arrested For a DWI?

Arrested for Public Intoxication?

If you’ve been accused of Driving While Intoxicated or public intoxication, it is crucial that you act quickly.

If you are facing  a DWI charge contact attorney Tristan LeGrande by calling 281-684-3500.

Http://www.legrandelaw.com

Houston DWI Attorney Tristan LeGrande