When Will Cannabis be Fully Legal in Texas?
As more and more states surrounding the Lone Star State legalize cannabis, it’s incredibly frustrating to see more Texans (and their wallets) leave the state to find natural relief. Despite the presence of the TCUP program which allows qualified MDs to write prescriptions for low-THC products, Texas doesn’t allow Texans the freedom to choose natural and cost-effective alternatives like marijuana flower, and it’s a painstaking and expensive process to access THC products. As a fierce advocate & activist for cannabis access in Texas, I’m often asked’ “When will weed be legal here?” The answer unfortunately isn’t so simple and depends on understanding the Texas legislative process to get a better idea about potential timelines, and what needs to happen to get us across the goal line.
First off, Texas laws are made through the legislative process. Not through citizen initiative, but by the Texas legislature, which is made up of the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate, is responsible for creating and passing laws. This means that our elected officials quite literally hold all the cards, so we better vote smart.
The legislative process in Texas begins when a member of the legislature introduces a bill. The bill is then assigned to a committee for review and discussion. If the committee decides to move forward with the bill, it is then scheduled for a hearing before the full legislature. Bills travel through the House first and then the State Senate.
During the hearing, members of the legislature have the opportunity to ask questions and make amendments to the bill. Texans also have the opportunity to voice their support or disapproval of the bill both in the House and in the Senate. If the bill passes in both the House and the Senate, it is then sent to the Governor for consideration. The Governor can either sign the bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without his or her signature.
The problem is, the second most powerful position in the state, the Lieutenant Governor, can prevent any bill from being voted on in the Senate. Our current Lieutenant Governor is Dan Patrick, and he’s being paid by Oil & Big Pharma to stop any cannabis bills from reaching the senate floor, despite recent polls indicating that over 80% of Texans support a more robust medical program. Just follow the money, it’s not rocket science y’all. As long as Dan Patrick has control over the Senate, it’s going to be very difficult to make gains in our medical marijuana program. It's worth noting that the legislative process in Texas can be complex and involves many steps. This is just a general overview of how laws are made in the state, and my opinion about what is holding Texas back!
I will be actively involved in the 2023 legislative process just as I was in 2021 and will keep you posted about progress and setbacks. Just hang on Texans,
