This past week alone, the Texas House and it’s committees have approved several bills for cannabis reform. Let’s take a look at each one and what it could offer the people of Texas. 

HB 441

The first bill on our list today is HB 441. This bill would decriminalize the possession of cannabis up to one ounce. All offenses would be considered a Class C misdemeanor and would not carry any threat of jail time. This frees up threats to young people and people of color, who are typically the ones prosecuted for minor possession charges. 

In 2019 the House passed a similar bill, but it unfortunately died in the Senate.

HB 1535

This bill, HB 1535, offers a medical cannabis expansion to the state’s current program. Texas has a more conservative medical cannabis program in the state, but they still offer the program. They are one of 37 states to create this kind of program for its citizens. Many states have seen benefit from sales and citizens cheer on the continued reform across the country. 

Texas lawmakers are looking to expand the state’s medical program to include additional qualifying conditions including: cancer, chronic pain, and PTSD. In addition, the state’s Department of Health will be allowed to add qualifying conditions to the medical cannabis bill through administrative ruling, something that only the state’s congress had the power to do in the past. Finally, HB 1535 would increase the THC limit in medical cannabis from 0.5 percent to five percent. This would create higher yields each year for producers and growers and offer more benefits for patients. 

HB 1802

A controversial bill, HB 1802 would require the state to study the potential therapeutic effects of psychedelics such as psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and MDMA. These kinds of bills have been pushed in more liberal states, like California. HOwever some lawmakers and researchers say that psilocybin does have some benefits for mental health conditions like depression and PTSD. 

There has always been concern with these patients taking antidepressants for medication, as they can sometimes increase the effects of depression and fear instead of help reduce them. Psilocybin could have properties to help reduce depression without any harsh antidepressant medications. And Texas lawmakers want the state to research these properties to see if magic mushrooms could really help citizens. 

HB 2593

The final reform bill is again about decriminalization efforts. HB 2593 would create a new drug schedule for THC products and would offer lower penalties. However there will still be exceptions to this new bill should it become law. For example, possessing up to two ounces of cannabis concentrates is still a Class B misdemeanor with possible jail time sentencing. 

Future

“This has been a historic week for cannabis reform,” said Jax Finkel of Texas NORML. “We have a lot of work to do to finish this session strong and help as many Texans as possible.”

These bills will still have to pass a full House vote before making their way to the Senate for committee discussion and vote. If they become approved by the Senate, then they are off to Governor Greg Abbot’s desk for his signature. But before it can reach the governor’s desk, it must make it past Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who has previously killed reform efforts by sitting at the head of the Senate. 

There is a chance that Lt Governor Patrick could still approve these reform measures. A recent poll shows that 60 percent of citizens are for any kind of cannabis legalization. This is a significant increase from 42 percent of citizens in 2010. So there is tremendous interest in these measures as well as those are expected to come, such as recreational cannabis legalization. 

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