88th Texas Legislature

The 88th Texas Legislature convenes on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at noon. Prefiling of legislation began November 14, 2022. The 140th and final day of the 88th legislative session, known as “Sine die” is May 29, 2023.

Now is an ideal time to take action and ensure that your representative and senator know about your support for cannabis law reform!

Select your issue below to write your elected officials in the Texas legislature. Please note that if you have a newly elected official from the November election, they will not be available until they formally enter office.

Submit your testimony to be included in hearing binders. (Coming Soon)

Our goals for the 88th Texas Legislature include: 

• Reduce/remove penalties for low level cannabis possession. This includes enacting provisions to eliminate the threat of arrest, loss of drivers license, criminal record, and discrimination.
  
• Reduce/remove the excessively harsh penalties associated with the possession of cannabis concentrates.
  
• Improve the Texas Compassionate Use Program so that doctors can decide which conditions and symptoms could benefit from medical cannabis, remove the arbitrary THC cap (currently at 1%), and solidify patient protections.
  
• Creating a regulated retail cannabis market for adults 21 years of age and older which ensures a reasonable tax rate, embraces free market values, provides consumer protections, and does not arbitrarily limit access to licenses.
  
• Institute updated policies on government workplace drug testing since testing for THC is no longer feasible with a thriving Texas hemp market which allows 0.3% THC.
  
• Address disparities in policing for cannabis offenses.
  
• Allow for expunction for all previous arrests and charges for cannabis.
  
• Remove penalties for paraphernalia.

Register for the free Virtual Advocacy Workshop on January 21, 2023.

This virtual event is dedicated to educating and empowering individuals who want to effectively advocate for cannabis in Texas.

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Bills for the 88th legislative session in 2023 are currently being filed. The deadline to file a bill is March 10th.

Medical Cannabis Bills

SB 121 by Sen. José Menéndez – Relating to authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, delivery, sale, and research of medical cannabis for medical use by patients with certain medical conditions and the licensing of medical cannabis organizations; authorizing fees.

SB 127 by Sen. Carol Alvarado – Relating to the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, transportation, and delivery of medical cannabis for use by patients as the best available medical treatment, the licensing of medical cannabis dispensing organizations, and the registration of certain individuals; authorizing fees.

Penalty Reduction Bills

HB 127 by Rep. Terry Canales – Relating to the criminal penalties for possession or delivery of marihuana concentrate.

HB 218 by Rep. Joe Moody – Relating to the criminal and licensing consequences of certain marihuana possession, drug paraphernalia possession, and tetrahydrocannabinol possession offenses; imposing a fee.

HB 224 by Rep. Diego Bernal – Relating to removing criminal penalties for the possession or distribution of certain drug paraphernalia under the Texas Controlled Substances Act.

HB 382 by Rep. Nicole Collier – Relating to a defense to prosecution for the possession of certain consumable hemp products containing a controlled substance or marihuana.

HB 388 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson – Relating to the criminal penalty for the possession of a small amount of marihuana.

HB 520 by Rep. Gene Wu – Relating to criminal penalties for possession offenses under the Texas Controlled Substances Act.

SB 87 by Sen. Nathan Johnson – Relating to the criminal penalties for possession or delivery of marihuana concentrate.

SB 208 by Sen. Sarah Eckhardt – Relating to the criminal penalties for delivery and possession of marihuana and citations given for those offenses.

Legalization Bills

SB 209 by Sen. Sarah Eckhardt – Relating to regulating the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, and use of cannabis and cannabis products; authorizing the imposition of fees; requiring occupational licenses; creating a criminal offense.

Miscellaneous

HB 513 by Rep. Will Metcalf – Relating to the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance or marihuana causing death or serious bodily injury; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty.

Joint Resolutions

What is a Joint Resolution? A joint resolution is used legislative measure used to propose amendments to the Texas Constitution and requires a super majority in both chambers of the legislature to be adopted but does not require action by the governor. Before becoming effective, the provisions of joint resolutions proposing amendments to the Texas Constitution must be approved by the voters of Texas.

SJR 22 by Sen. Sarah Eckhardt – Proposing a constitutional amendment to direct the legislature to authorize and regulate the possession, cultivation, and sale of cannabis.