Since 2007, Texas police have had the option of giving a citation for possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, yet this option is rarely used outside of urban centers and arrests are more common than citations. Given that public views are changing — and certain marijuana use is legal in states including California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington please discuss the following issues in your paper:

Discuss the current law regarding the recreational use of marijuana in Texas and what changes or laws may be under consideration by the Texas legislature with respect to the use of marijuana.
What do you think the punishment should be, if any, for marijuana possession in Texas? Please be specific and use examples to support your position.
Why do you think Texas police officers have not often used the cite and release option? Please be specific and use examples to support your position.
Should cite and release be only an option?  What other options do you think should be used and why? Please be specific and use examples to support your position.
How does the rate of incarceration and use of public funds in Texas effect this issue of cite and release in Texas?  Please be specific and use examples to support your position.
Why do you think some counties use cite and release and not others? Please be specific and use examples to support your position.
All answers must be clearly labeled with the corresponding Part number you are answering. All papers must at least 4 pages, but not longer than 8 pages. Your paper must be typed, double-spaced with 1″ margins on all sides. You should use a clear font that is highly readable. I highly recommend using 12 pt. Times New Roman or Arial font.