{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "path": "/research/harris-county-marijuana-possession-trends/",
  "reviewed": "2026-10-22",
  "definition": "Two base misdemeanor marijuana-possession categories in DPS county arrest workbooks; current identifiers 35620008 and 35620009. Records, not necessarily unique people or events, HPD-only activity, filings or convictions.",
  "historicalStatus": "Provisional crosswalk across releases; DPS confirmation of code equivalence, age/reporting coverage and revisions outstanding.",
  "annual": [
    {
      "year": 2017,
      "harris": 3237,
      "restOfTexas": 76704,
      "texas": 79941,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 251,
      "harrisIndex2017": 100.0,
      "restOfTexasIndex2017": 100.0
    },
    {
      "year": 2018,
      "harris": 2808,
      "restOfTexas": 79121,
      "texas": 81929,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 248,
      "harrisIndex2017": 86.74698795180723,
      "restOfTexasIndex2017": 103.15107425949104
    },
    {
      "year": 2019,
      "harris": 1094,
      "restOfTexas": 62862,
      "texas": 63956,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 251,
      "harrisIndex2017": 33.79672536299042,
      "restOfTexasIndex2017": 81.95400500625783
    },
    {
      "year": 2020,
      "harris": 66,
      "restOfTexas": 38279,
      "texas": 38345,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 242,
      "harrisIndex2017": 2.0389249304911954,
      "restOfTexasIndex2017": 49.90482895285774
    },
    {
      "year": 2021,
      "harris": 78,
      "restOfTexas": 37213,
      "texas": 37291,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 244,
      "harrisIndex2017": 2.4096385542168677,
      "restOfTexasIndex2017": 48.51507092198582
    },
    {
      "year": 2022,
      "harris": 40,
      "restOfTexas": 36563,
      "texas": 36603,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2022-2024",
      "sourceAsOf": "2025-01-07T13:35:00",
      "ageSchema": "adult + juvenile",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 250,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 245,
      "harrisIndex2017": 1.2357120790855731,
      "restOfTexasIndex2017": 47.667657488527325
    },
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "harris": 179,
      "restOfTexas": 34204,
      "texas": 34383,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sourceAsOf": "2026-01-13T16:29:00",
      "ageSchema": "adult + juvenile",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 250,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 246,
      "harrisIndex2017": 5.5298115539079395,
      "restOfTexasIndex2017": 44.59219858156028
    },
    {
      "year": 2024,
      "harris": 1535,
      "restOfTexas": 33646,
      "texas": 35181,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sourceAsOf": "2026-01-13T16:29:00",
      "ageSchema": "adult + juvenile",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 250,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 242,
      "harrisIndex2017": 47.420451034908865,
      "restOfTexasIndex2017": 43.864726741760535
    },
    {
      "year": 2025,
      "harris": 1096,
      "restOfTexas": 36202,
      "texas": 37298,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sourceAsOf": "2026-01-13T16:29:00",
      "ageSchema": "adult + juvenile",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 250,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 243,
      "harrisIndex2017": 33.8585109669447,
      "restOfTexasIndex2017": 47.19701710471423
    }
  ],
  "allReleaseObservations": [
    {
      "year": 2017,
      "harris": 3237,
      "restOfTexas": 76704,
      "texas": 79941,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 251
    },
    {
      "year": 2018,
      "harris": 2834,
      "restOfTexas": 79441,
      "texas": 82275,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 248
    },
    {
      "year": 2019,
      "harris": 1103,
      "restOfTexas": 63137,
      "texas": 64240,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 251
    },
    {
      "year": 2020,
      "harris": 64,
      "restOfTexas": 38443,
      "texas": 38507,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 241
    },
    {
      "year": 2021,
      "harris": 79,
      "restOfTexas": 37238,
      "texas": 37317,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 244
    },
    {
      "year": 2018,
      "harris": 2808,
      "restOfTexas": 79121,
      "texas": 81929,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 248
    },
    {
      "year": 2019,
      "harris": 1094,
      "restOfTexas": 62862,
      "texas": 63956,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 251
    },
    {
      "year": 2020,
      "harris": 66,
      "restOfTexas": 38279,
      "texas": 38345,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 242
    },
    {
      "year": 2021,
      "harris": 78,
      "restOfTexas": 37213,
      "texas": 37291,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 244
    },
    {
      "year": 2022,
      "harris": 40,
      "restOfTexas": 36602,
      "texas": 36642,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sourceAsOf": null,
      "ageSchema": "unsplit source columns",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 254,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 245
    },
    {
      "year": 2022,
      "harris": 40,
      "restOfTexas": 36563,
      "texas": 36603,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2022-2024",
      "sourceAsOf": "2025-01-07T13:35:00",
      "ageSchema": "adult + juvenile",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 250,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 245
    },
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "harris": 179,
      "restOfTexas": 34252,
      "texas": 34431,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2022-2024",
      "sourceAsOf": "2025-01-07T13:35:00",
      "ageSchema": "adult + juvenile",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 250,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 246
    },
    {
      "year": 2024,
      "harris": 1534,
      "restOfTexas": 33377,
      "texas": 34911,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2022-2024",
      "sourceAsOf": "2025-01-07T13:35:00",
      "ageSchema": "adult + juvenile",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 250,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 242
    },
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "harris": 179,
      "restOfTexas": 34204,
      "texas": 34383,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sourceAsOf": "2026-01-13T16:29:00",
      "ageSchema": "adult + juvenile",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 250,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 246
    },
    {
      "year": 2024,
      "harris": 1535,
      "restOfTexas": 33646,
      "texas": 35181,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sourceAsOf": "2026-01-13T16:29:00",
      "ageSchema": "adult + juvenile",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 250,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 242
    },
    {
      "year": 2025,
      "harris": 1096,
      "restOfTexas": 36202,
      "texas": 37298,
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sourceAsOf": "2026-01-13T16:29:00",
      "ageSchema": "adult + juvenile",
      "countiesWithSelectedRows": 250,
      "countiesWithPositiveSelectedCounts": 243
    }
  ],
  "harrisSourceCells": [
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2017,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 32605,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "E32605"
      ],
      "values": [
        3106
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2018,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 32605,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "F32605"
      ],
      "values": [
        2655
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2019,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 32605,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "G32605"
      ],
      "values": [
        1048
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2020,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 32605,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "H32605"
      ],
      "values": [
        62
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2021,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 32605,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "I32605"
      ],
      "values": [
        71
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2017,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 32608,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "E32608"
      ],
      "values": [
        131
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2018,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 32608,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "F32608"
      ],
      "values": [
        179
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2019,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 32608,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "G32608"
      ],
      "values": [
        55
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2020,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 32608,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "H32608"
      ],
      "values": [
        2
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2021,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 32608,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "I32608"
      ],
      "values": [
        8
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2018,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 33226,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "E33226"
      ],
      "values": [
        2630
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2019,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 33226,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "F33226"
      ],
      "values": [
        1039
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2020,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 33226,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "G33226"
      ],
      "values": [
        64
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2021,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 33226,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "H33226"
      ],
      "values": [
        70
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2022,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 33226,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "I33226"
      ],
      "values": [
        33
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2018,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 33228,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "E33228"
      ],
      "values": [
        178
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2019,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 33228,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "F33228"
      ],
      "values": [
        55
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2020,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 33228,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "G33228"
      ],
      "values": [
        2
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2021,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 33228,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "H33228"
      ],
      "values": [
        8
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2018-2022",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffense",
      "year": 2022,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 33228,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "I33228"
      ],
      "values": [
        7
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2022-2024",
      "sheet": "Sheet1",
      "year": 2022,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 26944,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "E26944",
        "F26944"
      ],
      "values": [
        29,
        4
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2022-2024",
      "sheet": "Sheet1",
      "year": 2023,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 26944,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "G26944",
        "H26944"
      ],
      "values": [
        144,
        4
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2022-2024",
      "sheet": "Sheet1",
      "year": 2024,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 26944,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "I26944",
        "J26944"
      ],
      "values": [
        1335,
        15
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2022-2024",
      "sheet": "Sheet1",
      "year": 2022,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 26946,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "E26946",
        "F26946"
      ],
      "values": [
        7,
        0
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2022-2024",
      "sheet": "Sheet1",
      "year": 2023,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 26946,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "G26946",
        "H26946"
      ],
      "values": [
        31,
        0
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2022-2024",
      "sheet": "Sheet1",
      "year": 2024,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 26946,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "I26946",
        "J26946"
      ],
      "values": [
        182,
        2
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffenseWithJu",
      "year": 2023,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 27442,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ - 35620008",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "E27442",
        "F27442"
      ],
      "values": [
        144,
        4
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffenseWithJu",
      "year": 2024,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 27442,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ - 35620008",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "G27442",
        "H27442"
      ],
      "values": [
        1336,
        15
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffenseWithJu",
      "year": 2025,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 27442,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ < 2OZ - 35620008",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)",
      "cells": [
        "I27442",
        "J27442"
      ],
      "values": [
        933,
        6
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffenseWithJu",
      "year": 2023,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 27444,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ - 35620009",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "E27444",
        "F27444"
      ],
      "values": [
        31,
        0
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffenseWithJu",
      "year": 2024,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 27444,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ - 35620009",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "G27444",
        "H27444"
      ],
      "values": [
        182,
        2
      ]
    },
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2023-2025",
      "sheet": "arrestsByCountyAndOffenseWithJu",
      "year": 2025,
      "county": "HARRIS",
      "row": 27444,
      "label": "POSS MARIJ <= 4OZ > 2OZ - 35620009",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(2)",
      "cells": [
        "I27444",
        "J27444"
      ],
      "values": [
        157,
        0
      ]
    }
  ],
  "excludedHarrisVariants": [
    {
      "sourceId": "harris:dps-2017-2021",
      "row": 32606,
      "offense": "POSS MARIJ <= 2 OZ DRUG FREE ZONE",
      "citation": "481.121(b)(1)"
    }
  ],
  "calculations": {
    "harris2023to2024Percent": 757.5418994413408,
    "harris2024to2025Percent": -28.59934853420195,
    "restTexas2023to2024Percent": -1.6313881417378107,
    "texas2023to2024Percent": 2.320914405374741
  },
  "formulas": {
    "percentChange": "(end / start - 1) * 100",
    "index": "year count / 2017 count * 100",
    "restOfTexas": "sum of selected rows assigned to every source county except HARRIS; not a complete-agency-coverage certification"
  },
  "policyEvents": [
    {
      "year": 2019,
      "date": "2019-06-10",
      "label": "Texas hemp law",
      "source": "https://capitol.texas.gov/billlookup/History.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB1325"
    },
    {
      "year": 2020,
      "date": "2020-09-08",
      "label": "HFSC plant-testing method",
      "source": "https://hfsctx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Hemp-v-Marijuana-9-8-20.pdf"
    },
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "date": "2023-08-27",
      "label": "DA direct-filing memo effective",
      "source": "https://cdn.houstonpublicmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/31100652/2023.08.24-Law-Enforcement-Leaders.pdf"
    },
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "date": "2023-09-01",
      "label": "HB 17 effective",
      "source": "https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HB17"
    },
    {
      "year": 2024,
      "date": "2024-01-02",
      "label": "New mayor presides",
      "source": "https://www.houstontx.gov/citysec/agenda/2024/20240102.pdf"
    }
  ]
}