Should San Antonio decriminalize marijuana? – WOAI

Should San Antonio decriminalize marijuana?  WOAI

SAN ANTONIO – City leaders are taking a closer look at the potential economic benefits of legalizing marijuana. This conversation is far from over. District 2 Councilman Jalen Mckee-Rodriguez has filed a request for the city to study how marijuana legalization has impacted other major cities. The analysis would look at potential tax revenue, job creation and what a legal cannabis industry could mean for San Antonio. Mckee-Rodriguez hopes the findings could help make the case for legalization to state lawmakers. "If we're able to make the economic case that San Antonio can benefit greatly from legalization, we take that to our legislators, we take it to our delegation and we make that case,” explained Mckee-Rodriguez.

Four other council members have signed on to support the request. The proposal will first need to go through the city's governance committee before any study can move forward. “We will flip the script. We will protect children, yes, and protect our freedoms by giving the people of Texas a right to vote on the future of THC,” said Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa. While marijuana remains illegal for general recreational use in Texas, any change to state law would have to come from lawmakers in Austin. WOAI NBC News Channel 4 San Antonio provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, investigations, and items of interest