Last month, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1325 into law, legalizing the production and sale of hemp with less than .3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. But then came an unexpected twist. Crime labs across the state didn’t have the proper equipment to test for this level of THC, and consequently, prosecutors decided to drop hundreds of cases involving low-level marijuana charges.
Hays County District Attorney Wes Mau was not among them. Instead of taking a cue from other prosecutors in Texas, Mau opted to continue pursuing prosecution. As a Hays County resident for more than 16 years, I am worried about the message Mau’s no-tolerance decision is sending to residents directly impacted by these life-altering charges.
