Medical Cannabis Bill Passes Senate Committee!
Call to Action: Help Texas Patients
May 24, 2021End of Session Party! (5/31/21)
May 24, 2021HB 1535, authored by Rep. Stephanie Klick, to expand the Texas Compassionate Use Program and qualify more patients for medical cannabis, has passed out of the Senate State Affairs Committee with a 9-0 vote! This comes after calls and letters urging Lt. Governor Dan Patrick to advance this legislation!
YOU were instrumental in helping us keep this legislation alive by contacting the Lt. Governor and your senator. However, the senate committee adopted a substitute to HB 1535 which makes key changes to the original bill. This legislation has to be correct and scheduled for the floor of the Senate to ultimately voted on, but we have time as long as we work hard for it.
This substitute changes the proposed THC cap from 5 percent to 1 percent, removes chronic pain as a qualifying condition, and removes the ability for the review board to approve new qualifying conditions. View the committee substitute. View our coalition’s request to correct the amendments.
It is imperative that your senator supports this bill, and they need to hear from you! Email your senator:
Ask your senator to correct HB 1535 and vote YES!
The bill is set for the Intent Calendar today! Tune in later today for the Senate floor discussion. Watch the HB 1535 Senate Hearing.
Sine Die Party (5/31/2021)
Save the Date: Join us Monday, May 31st at 4:20pm to celebrate a historic session! In spite of a very challenging legislative session, the marijuana reform movement achieved great strides. Join us at The Belmont for a party to celebrate our milestones and join the movement! Details.
87th Legislative Wrap-Up
Reminder: Tune in to our 87th Legislative Wrap-Up on June 2nd at 8pm. Details
HB 2593 in on the Intent Calendar!
HB 2593 has passed the senate by a vote of 24-7. This legislation will reduce penalties for 2 ounces of THC concentrates from a felony to a Class B misdemeanor. An amendment was added, which requires the legislation to be reconciled with the House before heading to the governor’s desk. The amendment further clarifies that hemp is not included in the controlled substance list while also setting the total THC at 0.3%. This may affect the Delta-8 market. Read this article. Since the House and Senate versions are different, the bill will now go to Conference Committee for negotiation on the final draft before arriving on the governor’s desk.
HB 3948 is on the Intent Calendar!
HB 3948 passed out of the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs with a vote of 8-0. This bill establishes a hemp research program and cleans up some language in the statute. This bill contains the same amendment which was added to HB 2593 regarding Delta-8. The bill was scheduled for Monday, May 23rd’s Intent Calendar. Since agenda is long, so the bill has rolled over to today’s. (You will be able to watch the livestream here.) If there is any discrepancy between the House and Senate versions, it will go to a conference committee for negotiation on the final draft before arriving on the governor’s desk.
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