Almost 3 years ago I wrote a similar article titled This Is The Biggest Reason Why Texas Won’t Legalize Marijuana Any Time Soon.
So far the article hasn’t really been inaccurate. Accurate, even with the growing number of people supporting the legalization of marijuana in the state. COVID saw a increased jump in the approval of cannabis for the last session. Polls for that were taken after the election in 2020 though.
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Texans in 2021 as a majority wanted legalization. Almost two thirds of the state wanted it, with 50% of Republican voters approving to have taxes help fund schools in the state. That was an increase of 11% from 2018 and a 28% increase from 2019. The legislature did not act like it wanted that. As well, the 87th legislative session was not typical due to the pandemic.
This year, 2022, saw a new poll come out about the issue.
The polls show a possible shift of when constituents approve of legalization for cannabis overall in the state. The previous poll included education as a motivator. In the most recent poll which asked “Do you support or oppose the legalization of marijuana in Texas for recreational use?” Only 42% of Republicans responded as being in favor, an 8 percentage point drop. This may become a critical talking point for the Governor race in November given that voucher programs for schools and high property taxes are being brought back up in discussions. So, why is it Texas won’t legalize marijuana?
So, what’s the new reason why Texas won’t legalize marijuana?
The Republican Party of Texas had its biennial convention recently. The party in Texas decided to go all in on prohibition in the state. The platform does include a plank calling for marijuana to go from a federal Schedule I drug, to Schedule II. Schedule I includes addictive substances such as heroin and cocaine. Schedule II, is used to designate drugs with safe medial uses.
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The party running the state of Texas right now basically just announced that it has no plans to change the law. The party has zero plans to support those office holders that bring forward that change for the law. It’s being noted in advocacy communities that the position appears tone deaf, and doesn’t stick to conservative principles.
Just because you don’t like cannabis, or you wouldn’t want your kids or your husband or whoever to use cannabis, that doesn’t mean that prohibition is the right answer,” John Baucum, political director of Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition (RAMP), told Marijuana Moment about this issue.
The difference between this time and in early 2021, is that this is all taking place before an election. That’s the new reason why Texas won’t legalize marijuana this next session.
That means we can make a difference now, right?
Technically, yes.
The reality is likely a no. The pieces of the article from before on why legalization has not moved forward hasn’t really changed. It does not matter enough, to enough people was the first point. At the time I wrote that article, the concept was this: 84 percent of Texans want change in the state, but 84% are not willing to voice to their elected representatives that they want that change and they are not showing that they will vote for someone else if they do not get that change.
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That was for medical and looking at the numbers now – it’s down one percentage point. The support is still vocally there. But despite not having an updated poll to compare the previous CBS polls to, it likely hasn’t changed much. Thats
And just take a look on the Texas Cannabis Collective Facebook page when an article goes up about a candidate supporting or going against cannabis. There are almost always a handful of loud and agry people that are upset with the current leadership and representation in the state. They are clearly angered by the fact that there has been very little change. And then they will immediately follow it up with the reason why there has been no change. They have zero plan to change who they vote for.
Within the same reply you’ll see that they say that we need to get rid of the people they claim are ruining it all, and then say though that they cannot put the other person running on the ballot in office. This is a definition of insanity right? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.
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I can only remind people that when it’s stated that we cannot be deciding leaders based on a single issue item, that cannabis is not a single issue item. And that’s after getting over the mental gymnastics of hearing that from people that will vote on a different single issue item.
It’s healthcare reform, as evidenced by the desire to switch scheduling. It is criminal justice reform, as evidenced by the comments that even Governor Abbott has admitted to when stating “We don’t need to be stockpiling in our jails and prisons with people who are arrested for minor possession allegations.” That means that we also stop seeing disparity in who gets arrested for cannabis drug charges and equates to a form of actual social welfare reform. And just as importantly it will be a form of economic reform and growth in our state and nation.
Just know that when answering why Texas won’t legalize marijuana, I could be wrong.