While proponents of marijuana law reform in Texas are hoping bipartisan efforts this session lead to greater access to recreational and medical cannabis, that may not be likely.
A report from the news site Marijuana Moment shows that top state lawmakers do not expect “sweeping reform” on legalizing recreational use because of skepticism in the Texas Senate. The website, which reports on developments and trends affecting cannabis, is tracking more than 900 cannabis and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year.
That story also reported that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told a television station that if far-reaching marijuana legislation has a shot of passing his chamber in 2021, “it didn’t last time,” referring to his efforts to kill cannabis bills in the past.
Sen. Drew Springer, R-Muenster; Rep. Lynn Stucky, R-Denton; and Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, had not returned messages seeking comment by late Monday.
Texas continues to lag far behind other states where the use of cannabis products for medical and other purposes has been legalized, said Heather Fazio, director of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, a coalition seeking to change state laws to make it easier for terminally ill patients to receive cannabis treatment and to decriminalize marijuana possession
‘Unprecedented common ground’
“We are facing some challenges, but we are seeing unprecedented common ground in the Legislature,” Fazio said.
Jax Finkel, executive director of the Texas chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), agreed.
“When we talk about decriminalization, several bills have been offered,” she said. “As far as the retail market, we will have a robust conversation. We’ll just have to see how far the Legislature will go.”
Texas legislators have filed more than 40 bills this session to reform marijuana laws in the state — from medical use to decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of the drug for recreational use.
But the Austin American-Statesman has reported that, with time running out in the regular session, marijuana laws aren’t likely to change much.
“It appears apparent today that [marijuana proponents] don’t have the support” among lawmakers for major inroads, said A.J. Louderback, legislative director of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, which backs strict anti-cannabis laws, according to the publication. “Anything is possible during the session for something to gain traction and move, but I think it is going to be a long shot.”
A number of bills that would loosen marijuana prohibition still could win approval, but they’ve been diluted from original versions or didn’t constitute major change, according to the Statesman.
But several bills related to medical cannabis remain alive, including revised House Bill 1365 that would mandate a 0.5% cap on THC content, barely above the 0.3% that can be present in hemp. State…
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