With the number of cannabis-related bills filed in the Texas Legislature for this session, it’s of utmost importance to understand the differences between them. While some would authorize decriminalization or deferred adjudication, others would authorize full legalization depending on the specifics of their wordings.
Decriminalization
House Bill 63 and Senate Bill 156 (Representative/Speaker Pro Tempore Joe Moody and Senator Jose Rodriguez respectively)- Would reduce the criminal charges of possession of one ounce of cannabis to “a civil penalty (a fine) not to exceed $250.” If one were to receive the $250 fine at least three times, then the charges would be upgraded to a Class C misdemeanor.
House Bill 753 (Rep. Gene Wu)- Virtually would do the same as the aforementioned bills however only for .35 ounces or less.
House Bill 371 (Rep. Alma Allen)- Would decrease the criminal penalties of possession of one ounce or less.
House Bill 122 (Rep. Gene Hinojosa)- Would provide legal defense for medical cannabis patients if there were to be legal penalties regarding their medicinal usage.
House Bill 551 (Rep. Terry Canales)- Would lessen the criminal penalties of an increasingly popular cannabis product of concentrates from a felony to a class B misdemeanor depending on other factors (previous convictions, whether it was in a school zone, etc.)
House Bill 186 (Rep. Terry Canales) — Relating to the determination of the weight of marijuana and other tetrahydrocannabinols for the purpose of the prosecution and punishment of the offense of possession of those substances.
Senate Bill 460 (Sen. Nathan Johnson) – Relating to reducing criminal penalties for possession of marihuana.
House Bill 335 (Rep. Harold Dutton) – Relating to the penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marihuana and eligibility for placement on community supervision or on deferred adjudication community supervision for that offense.
House Bill 1206 (Rep. Cole) – Relating to the prosecution of and penalties for possession of marijuana.
Medical
Senate Bill 90 and Senate Joint Resolution 7 (Senators Jose Menendez and Jose Rodriguez respectively)- Would authorize an actual medical cannabis program beyond the restrictive nature of Texas Compassionate Use Program and determine exactly what conditions are qualifiers for the program along with creating the framework for medicinal dispensaries.
Senate Bill 400 – (Sen. Royce West) – Relating to authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, transportation, and delivery of medical cannabis for medical use by patients with certain debilitating medical conditions and terminal illnesses and the licensing of dispensing organizations and cannabis testing facilities; authorizing a fee.
House Bill 1187 (Rep Leo Pacheco) – Relating to prescribing low-THC cannabis to certain patients for compassionate use.
House Joint Resolution 21 and House Bill 209 (Rep. Ron Reynolds)- Would allow very similar actions by “authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, transportation, and delivery of medical cannabis for medical use by qualifying patients with certain debilitating medical conditions and the licensing of dispensing organizations and testing facilities.”
Hemp
Senate Bill 116 and House Bill 989 (Senator Jose Menendez and Ryan Guillen)- On the heels of the passing of The Farming Act of 2018, these bills would lay the groundwork for an industrial hemp industry in Texas, an industry that could provide great benefit for the dominant agricultural community in Texas.
House Bill 1230 (Rep Dominguez) – Relating to the production and regulation of hemp.
Others
House Bill 1013 (Rep. James White) – Relating to repealing automatic driver’s license suspensions for certain drug offenses.
House Bill 1196 (Rep Meza) – Relating to changing statutory references to marihuana to cannabis.
House Bill 1228 (Rep Shaheen) – Relating to political subdivision regulations, including zoning rules, concerning the cultivation, production, dispensing, or possession of low-THC cannabis.
For more information on the bills themselves and the intricate workings of the political process, please visit Texas NORML’s page at: https://www.texasnorml.org/86r-legislative-sesion/?fbclid=IwAR2jss6UJw04IM0wCgvwS8Wx2BgedbzmGeTDuwRO6WpIZO_2OMMf8E4FXKI