In the final days of Texas’s legislative session, lawmakers sent bills to the governor’s desk that would expand the state’s medical marijuana program and require a study into the therapeutic potential of certain psychedelics for military veterans. Meanwhile, legislation to reduce penalties for possessing cannabis concentrates and update the state’s hemp program that had been advancing failed to cross the finish line by key deadlines over the weekend. This rounds out an exceptionally busy legislative session for drug policy reform in the Lone Star State. While advocates are encouraged that lawmakers moved forward with the medical marijuana and psychedelics measures, they remain disappointed that they were unable to pass more expansive cannabis bills—including a decriminalization proposal that cleared the House but saw no action in the Senate. “This session has been an epic whirlwind with many adversities. While we have made some improvement to the laws this session, what we are most proud of is our team,” Jax Finkel, executive director of Texas NORML, told Marijuana Moment.
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 05/31/2021 12:14:00