More Texans will have access to medical marijuana this week, but the state lags in cannabis reform September 1, 2021 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments One of the few things to celebrate coming out of the past session of the Texas Legislature was an expansion of the state's Compassionate Use Program. A new law that goes into effect Wednesday, September 1, will let people with any form… Read More→
Most marijuana reform bills go up in smoke at Texas Legislature June 4, 2021 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments After an 87th Legislature that saw Texas lawmakers introduce some 60 bills related to reforming the state’s marijuana laws, only two made it to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. While pro-marijuana advocates saw cannabis-related bills “moving like never before” this session,… Read More→
Texas bill to lower penalties for marijuana extracts dies a step from Abbott’s desk May 31, 2021 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments Legislation that would have reduced criminal penalties for the possession of tetrahydrocannabinol extracts, the psychoactive element of cannabis commonly used in edibles, fell short of reaching Gov. Greg Abbott's desk in the closing hours of the legislative session. The Texas… Read More→
Texas Senate gives final passage to medical marijuana expansion bill May 26, 2021 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments The Texas Senate on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill expanding Texas’ medical marijuana program to include all forms of PTSD and cancer, though it underwent significant changes due to a committee substitute. Despite soaring through the House with… Read More→
A bill to expand Texas’ medical marijuana program started moving in the Senate. Advocates worry time is running out. May 21, 2021 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments With less than two weeks left in Texas' legislative session, an effort to expand the state's medical marijuana program gained new life on Thursday after weeks of outcry from advocates who said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was blocking the proposal. The Texas… Read More→
Texas’ medical cannabis program could expand under bill preliminarily OK’d by House April 29, 2021 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments The Texas House gave initial approval on Wednesday to a bill that would expand the state’s medical cannabis program to include those with chronic pain, all cancer patients and Texans suffering from PTSD. House Bill 1535, by Rep. Stephanie Klick,… Read More→
Texas’ odds for marijuana law reform? Depends on who you ask. March 23, 2021 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments 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… Read More→
Texas’ Medical Marijuana Program Is One Of The Most Restrictive In The Country. Advocates Hope The Legislature Will Change That. January 8, 2021 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments Five years after Texas legalized medical marijuana for people with debilitating illnesses, advocates and industry experts say the state’s strict rules, red tape, and burdensome barriers to entry have left the program largely inaccessible to those it was intended to… Read More→
High aspirations: Marijuana bills look to push Texas toward decriminalization, legalization in 2021 December 29, 2020 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments With the start of the 87th Texas Legislative session less than a month away, 20 marijuana bills have been filed as several lawmakers look to take the next step toward legalization in the Lone Star State. Colorado legalized marijuana just… Read More→
Tomlinson: The time has come for Texas to legalize marijuana — and decriminalize much more November 23, 2020 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments American companies sell thousands of products that harm consumers, create addictions and generate health care costs for society-at-large, all in the name of personal liberty. Legalizing marijuana, therefore, is completely consistent. Texas should follow the lead of 15 other states… Read More→
Several states legalized marijuana last week. Will Texas be next? November 10, 2020 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments Advocates for marijuana legalization are hopeful Texas lawmakers will take up meaningful reform this upcoming 2021 legislative session. During last week's general election, voters in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota approved ballot measures allowing recreational marijuana, leaving Texas… Read More→
Texas to end retail outlet sales of legal smokable cannabis July 30, 2020 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments The smoking of legal cannabis in Texas may go on. But as of this Sunday, stores that sell hemp flowers can only sell consumable versions of the plant. By state regulations, consuming does not include smoking. “I think we’re going… Read More→
Austin police won’t cite, arrest for misdemeanor pot charges, chief says July 4, 2020 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments Austin police will no longer cite or arrest people for Class A or Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession, Chief Brian Manley said in a memo Thursday. Officers will now only cite or arrest people for misdemeanor marijuana possession if a person’s… Read More→
Texas state crime labs won’t test suspected marijuana in low-level cases February 27, 2020 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments The Texas Department of Public Safety is almost ready to roll out its long-awaited lab test to tell if cannabis is newly legal hemp or illegal marijuana. But DPS Director Steve McCraw notified Texas law enforcement agencies this month of a crucial… Read More→
Austin, Texas police will stop arrests, tickets in most low-level marijuana cases after unanimous City Council vote January 24, 2020 AggregatedNews Texas 0 Comments The Austin City Council approved a resolution Thursday that will largely end arrests and fines for low-level marijuana possession. This comes after Texas' legalization of hemp last June threw marijuana prosecution into chaos since the plants look and smell identical. The resolution directs Austin… Read More→