Posts by Mary Beth Harrell

Texas is one of 26 states in which marijuana possession remains illegal, despite the fact that an August 2022 Dallas Morning News/UT-Tyler poll found that 72 percent of Texas voters support legalizing marijuana for medical use, and 55 percent favor legalizing it for recreational use. Texas also has a somewhat unique approach to marijuana possession…

Texas is set to enact 31 new laws, and new sections of 13 others, starting January 1, 2024. A significant number of them relate to our tax laws, though one creates a new court system for business cases, which we think is a good idea. But as criminal defense lawyers, our primary concern is for…

Texas prides itself on its “tough on crime” reputation, and the state takes criminal prosecutions extremely seriously. According to Prison Legal News, nearly 250,000 people are being held in jails and prisons throughout Texas. If Texas was a country, its incarceration rate would rank eighth among all the countries in the world. Over 700,000 people…

Some might assume that aggravated assault and deadly conduct are basically the same type of crimes. However, deadly conduct and aggravated assault are actually two distinct criminal charges in Texas, each with its own legal definitions, elements, and penalties. Under Texas law, the critical difference between aggravated assault and deadly conduct lies in the intent…

Texas has specific laws regulating the possession and use of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and THC-containing products. Texas law distinguishes between low-THC cannabis products, such as medical CBD, and THC-containing products that are not derived from low-THC cannabis. What is THC, and how does it relate to cannabis? Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, is the psychoactive compound…

In Texas, faking a drug test can lead to criminal charges and legal consequences. While the specific charges and penalties can vary depending on the circumstances, some common legal implications associated with faking a drug test in Texas may include: Tampering with evidence Under Texas law, faking a drug test can lead to charges of…

Resisting arrest can lead to various charges, including felony assault. However, it typically does not automatically result in serious charges. In Texas, resisting arrest is generally defined as intentionally preventing or obstructing a law enforcement officer from making a lawful arrest. This can involve a range of actions or behaviors, and the specific criteria for…

Those who abuse tranq—the powerful animal tranquilizer xylazine—face a high risk of overdose, and those who supply it could face serious legal consequences. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of fatal opioid overdoses linked to tranq rose by 276 percent from January 2019 through June 2022, the largest…

Marijuana has proven benefits for treating certain medical conditions and symptoms. However, possession of marijuana remains illegal here in Texas. You may not know, though, about the Compassionate Use Program (CUP), which gives patients lawful access to low-THC edibles. The Compassionate Use Act, passed in 2015, allows the use of low-THC cannabis products for certain…