Texas Marijuana Laws 2017: Grandfather Arrested For Drug Possession As Lawmakers Push To Decriminalize Weed

Just days before lawmakers in Texas filed several bills aimed at decriminalizing marijuana Tuesday, a 67-year-old grandpa from California was arrested in the Lone Star state on possession charges. Phillip Blanton told news site KHOU.com Tuesday he was on his way to visit his 20-year-old granddaughter who has Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when he was pulled over in Decatur for speeding, which inevitably resulted in the former prison counselor’s arrest after authorities discovered four ounces of medical marijuana and edibles in his trunk.

Blanton ended up spending the night in jail following his Jan. 1 arrest and was released the next day after posting the required amount of his $20,000 bond. Blanton, who has legally purchased cannabis in California for the past 10 years and had the medical marijuana identification authorizing his use in the Golden State during the time of his arrest, told local news media that he admitted to having a smoking pipe in his car, which led to a search of his vehicle.

“I said, 'Officer, I don’t have any illegal drugs on me. Everything I have is a prescription from my doctor,'” Blanton said. “He goes, 'If that dog finds anything, you’re going to jail.'”

Although it is unclear if Blanton had any intentions to give any of his pot to his granddaughter, who is currently in a Houston hospital, he said he is worried he could end up in a Texas prison due to the state’s strict marijuana laws. Despite Senators pushing to reduce the severity of possession charges in Texas, currently people found with less than two ounces of cannabis in the state can face a misdemeanor charge and up to 180 days in jail.

“What’s going through my mind is terror. I’m a 67-year-old grandpa who loves his family very much and wants to see his granddaughter who’s battling for her life,” he said. “My daughter and son-in-law are already going through hardship with my granddaughter. We didn’t tell her that papa has been arrested. I feel so bad because I came here to uplift my family.”

Blanton was told it could take up to six months to get a court date. He said he was not going to accept a plea deal because he doesn’t believe he’s committed a crime.