Marijuana Texas and the Law
Just so you don’t get yourself into any trouble we’ve put together a little primer about marijuana Texas and law. Is marijuana legal in Texas? No. Is medical marijuana legal in Texas? No. Is CBD oil legal in Texas? Kinda.
Texas marijuana laws are a bit strict – getting pulled over in Texas is stuff stoners DON’T like, right? When it comes to marijuana legalization Texas has a long way to go. However, a new law that allows physicians to recommend CBD (cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating cannabis derivative) to patients who suffer from epilepsy could light the way for medical marijuana in Texas. In the distant future, maybe. Making CBD available only to epilepsy patients is a far cry from Texas legalizing weed.
What do the current Texas marijuana laws say?
According to Texas weed laws, the herb is not legal for recreational consumption. This “CBD-only/low-THC” law requires a CBD to THC ratio of 20:1 and the medicine may only contain 0.5% THC.
What about Texas medical marijuana? Well In 2015, Texas governor Greg Abbott (R) signed Senate Bill 339, otherwise referred to as the Texas Compassionate Use Act, which allows “qualified” physicians to recommend CBD oil to patients with intractable epilepsy, uncontrollable seizures. While not a “whole plant” medical marijuana law, it is the first law passed by the Lone Star State which allows for a cannabis derivative to be recommended with a therapeutic purpose. The law mandates three business licenses for CBD dispensaries be approved by September 1, 2017. Cool.
However, Abbott stressed that he will not approve any other cannabis products for recreation or medicinal application. “I remain convinced that Texas should not legalize marijuana, nor should Texas open the door for conventional marijuana to be used for medicinal purposes,” Abbott said.
The law says “physicians qualified to prescribe low-THC cannabis” may recommend CBD only to those who suffer from intractable epilepsy when other federally approved medications have failed them. Really, only a neurologist or epileptologist will be able to prescribe CBD after receiving “special training” to become a licensed CBD doctor. And there will be a registry keeping track of the physicians who recommend the drug and the patients who take it.
While a step in the right direction towards medical marijuana in Texas, the bill does nothing for Texans suffering from other serious diseases treatable with CBD, like cancer. That’s why marijuana legalization in Texas is important.
“While this program leaves most patients behind and we’re concerned about its functionality, today is one for the history books,” said Heather Fazio, Texas political director for the Marijuana Policy Project, reported in the Houston Sun Times. “The Texas Legislature is sending a resounding message: Marijuana is medicine.”
Medical marijuana Texas style
Texas is the 15th state to legalize CBD. CBD oil has proven more effective than conventional drugs when treating epilepsy symptoms. Thinking of weed in Texas, it’s important to consider the problem of jobs and non-violent drug convictions.
State Reps. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) and Joe Moody (D-El Paso) are both worried that Texans with non-violent drug convictions, specifically pot possession, have a difficult time getting hired because a stigma of drug use surrounds them, as reported in the Austin American-Statesman. The logic is simple: the more people out of work means more people rely on state resources, which isn’t good for the economy. They are calling for decriminalization.
“Drug convictions and things like this are going to derail them,” Moody said. “If you create an unemployable class of young people, that necessarily would create a negative impact on the economy as whole.”
“They are branded that way forever, and that should not be the case,” Isaac said.
Moody introduced House Bill 507 last year, which would make possession of 1 ounce or less a ticketing offense. Another bill, HB 2165, proposed by Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview), called for the legalization of marijuana in Texas, but never made it to the house floor. Still, growing bipartisan support among Texas lawmakers for lowering pot penalties is definitely stuff stoners like.
What has to happen before we see Texas legalize weed? Let us know in the comments below. Also have any experience with Texas marijuana laws or with Texas marijuana legalization efforts. Or maybe you’ve smoked some Texas marijuana without getting caught? Let us know about your experiences in the comment section below.
Post By: Ben Ries
Sources: Senate Bill 339, House Bill 507, House Bill 2165, Texas DPS, http://www.cbd-texas.com/, Houston Sun Times, Austin American-Statesman, Texas Legalization
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6 Responses to “Texas Marijuana Laws”
marshall
I am unfortunately a perfect example. I have been arrested for marijuana several times and have not been able to get a job in seven years. As many texans are I am a workaholic at heart but after only two months in jail I lost motivation and credibility through my criminal record. I am now thirty years old, no longer smoking pot and just don’t have that motivation back. I changed when I was in jail. If someone provides you food and a place to sleep you no longer see reason to work. Texas looses hard workers and billions of dollars fighting the war on drugs and get nothing in return except cartels putting bullets in their border patrol men.
Bo
Abbot has no idea the benefits of legalizing weed i guess? Tax money, actually medical implications, less drugs through the borders, less illegal aliens, less cartels, less murders, less people in jail or arrested (tax payers money). Get with the times old man. People shouldn’t be criminals for partaking in a non lethal substance that’s much better for you than Tobacco or Alcohol. I’m borderline Alcoholic, why you ask? It’s legal and an easy means towards relaxation on a difficult day but i’d much rather just have a hit or two of weed. No one has ever died from weed. People die everyday from Tobacco and Alcohol. I can not stand the effects of alcohol but my job has me on edge every day, I’d like to relax some way, should that not be a right? When I get home I’d like to relax a little bit and would rather turn to a hit of bud than a beer or glass of wine. I would not touch a beer if weed was legal. I got busted once for a small bud, 2 days in jail, car towed, bail at $1,000, 40 hours of Community Service which I did in less than 5 days (while working my job, thank god I had been there before I that happened I guess), weekly checkins (which I had to use Annual leave for) and pay ups to the department every month.
Please just look at these other states…they know what they are doing. And you know what it’s working, saving tax payers dollars, families, and lives. Get real Texas.
Bo Brentley
Abbot has no idea the benefits of legalizing weed i guess? Tax money, actually medical implications, less drugs through the borders, less illegal aliens, less cartels, less murders, less people in jail or arrested (tax payers money). Get with the times old man. People shouldn’t be criminals for partaking in a non lethal substance that’s much better for you than Tobacco or Alcohol. I’m borderline Alcoholic, why you ask? It’s legal and an easy means towards relaxation on a difficult day but i’d much rather just have a hit or two of weed. No one has ever died from weed. People die everyday from Tobacco and Alcohol. I can not stand the effects of alcohol but my job has me on edge every day, I’d like to relax some way, should that not be a right? When I get home I’d like to relax a little bit and would rather turn to a hit of bud than a beer or glass of wine. I would not touch a beer if weed was legal. I got busted once for a small bud, 2 days in jail, car towed, bail at $1,000, 40 hours of Community Service which I did in less than 5 days (while working my job, thank god I had been there before I that happened I guess), weekly checkins (which I had to use Annual leave for) and pay ups to the department every month.
Please just look at these other states…they know what they are doing. And you know what it’s working, saving tax payers dollars, families, and lives. Get real Texas.
JD Cole
Abbot has no idea the benefits of legalizing weed i guess? Tax money, actually medical implications, less drugs through the borders, less illegal aliens, less cartels, less murders, less people in jail or arrested (tax payers money). Get with the times old man. People shouldn’t be criminals for partaking in a non lethal substance that’s much better for you than Tobacco or Alcohol. I’m borderline Alcoholic, why you ask? It’s legal and an easy means towards relaxation on a difficult day but i’d much rather just have a hit or two of weed. No one has ever died from weed. People die everyday from Tobacco and Alcohol. I can not stand the effects of alcohol but my job has me on edge every day, I’d like to relax some way, should that not be a right? When I get home I’d like to relax a little bit and would rather turn to a hit of bud than a beer or glass of wine. I would not touch a beer if weed was legal. I got busted once for a small bud, 2 days in jail, car towed, bail at $1,000, 40 hours of Community Service which I did in less than 5 days (while working my job, thank god I had been there before I that happened I guess), weekly checkins (which I had to use Annual leave for) and pay ups to the department every month.
Please just look at these other states…they know what they are doing. And you know what it’s working, saving tax payers dollars, families, and lives. Get real Texas.
Samie
I do have epilepsy and I did not know marijuana oils is legal for me, until I just seen it on the news. I currently take 6 pills a day which are 600mg each. I would prefer to smoke marijuana but I’m too old to go to jail so I do not. However, I will be mentioning this to my neurologist. Then again, if I test positive for my job, who already know that I have epilepsy, I will still be worried about loosing my job. The other down side is worrying can cause me to have a seizure and believe me, I don’t need any help with having those!
devyn1221
check out hb 81 and 2107