The House vote Monday is the first time the lower chamber approved such a measure, marking significant progress. But the opposition of the lieutenant governor remains a major hurdle.
marijuana
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas House votes to legalize the farming of industrial hemp
Hemp is a cousin of the marijuana plant, but it contains low levels of the psychoactive element in marijuana known as THC. The House’s bill will now go to the Senate.
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Texas Legislature 2019
No, experts don’t consider marijuana a gateway drug. That, and five more fact checks from the Texas Legislature on weed.
It’s unlikely Texas will become the next Colorado or California anytime soon. But when it comes to loosening criminal penalties or expanding medicinal use, how much of what each side says is true?
Posted inState Government
Meet the small El Paso publishing house behind the book Beto O’Rourke co-wrote about legalizing pot
Cinco Puntos Press has been publishing books that invoke a “sensibility of border life” for decades, including the only book authored, in part, by O’Rourke.
Posted in
Politics
Point of Order: Will Texas Finally Go to Pot?
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Sen. Jose Menéndez about marijuana’s bipartisan moment — how the politics of legalization, decriminalization, medical cannabis and CBD oil make for strange budfellows.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Tribcast: Dan Patrick’s stance on medical cannabis, Castro’s struggles, O’Rourke’s first week
On this week’s TribCast, Aman talks to Alex, Aliyya and Ross about the mood in the Texas Capitol halfway through the session, why Dan Patrick has some pot advocates feeling paranoid and how the two Texans running for president are doing — and yes, there are still two.
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is "is “strongly opposed to weakening any laws against marijuana [and] remains wary of the various medicinal use proposals that could become a vehicle for expanding access to this drug,” according to a spokesperson.](https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10_Lit._Gov._Dan_Patrick_Senate_Floor_MG_TT-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
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Texas Legislature 2019
Medical cannabis expansion has high support in the Texas Legislature. But Dan Patrick might stand in the way.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s wariness of proposals to expand the state’s narrow medical cannabis program may block any such bills from reaching the governor’s desk this session.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas lawmaker whose bill allowed medical cannabis oil wants to expand its use in 2019
State Rep. Stephanie Klick’s bill would give Texans with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and spasticity access to medical cannabis oil.
Posted in
University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
Guns are popular with Texans, and so are “red flag” laws, says UT/TT Poll
A strong majority of Texans told the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll that judges should be allowed to temporarily take guns away from people deemed dangerous to themselves or others.
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Texas Legislature 2019
“I don’t do this for fun.” Patients are hopeful Texas will expand access to medical cannabis
The Texas Legislature is about to kick off its first session since three licensed marijuana dispensaries opened in the state, providing cannabis products for hundreds of patients. Now advocates are hopeful that lawmakers are ready to dramatically expand that program to thousands more Texans who stand to benefit.
