In 2024, Texas experienced significant legislative activity concerning cannabis, reflecting the state’s ongoing debate over its legalization and regulation. This article provides an overview of key legislative efforts and policy changes during the year.

Legislative Efforts

Comprehensive Legalization Proposal

In November 2024, State Representative Jessica González prefiled House Bill 1208, aiming to legalize and regulate cannabis for adults aged 21 and over. The bill proposed a framework for licensing businesses to cultivate, process, test, and sell cannabis products. It also set possession limits at 2.5 ounces of dried flower and 15 grams of concentrates for individuals. If enacted, this legislation would have marked a significant shift in Texas’s approach to cannabis.

Proposed THC Ban

Conversely, in December 2024, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced that the Texas Senate would pursue a ban on all consumable tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products. This initiative, designated as Senate Bill 3, aimed to address concerns over unregulated THC products that had proliferated following the 2019 legalization of hemp. Critics argued that such products posed health risks due to the lack of testing requirements and age restrictions.

Municipal Decriminalization Efforts

At the municipal level, several Texas cities took steps toward decriminalizing marijuana possession. In November 2024, voters in Bastrop and Lockhart approved measures to decriminalize the possession of up to four ounces of marijuana. These propositions prohibited local law enforcement from citing or arresting individuals for low-level possession and restricted the use of city funds for testing substances to determine marijuana content.

However, these local initiatives faced challenges. In January 2024, Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits against several cities, including Austin, Killeen, Denton, San Marcos, and Elgin, aiming to block ordinances that decriminalized marijuana. Paxton contended that these local policies conflicted with state law, highlighting the tension between municipal autonomy and state authority in cannabis regulation.

Medical Cannabis Program

Texas’s Compassionate Use Program, established to provide low-THC cannabis to patients with specific medical conditions, remained limited in scope. As of 2024, the program allowed certain physicians to prescribe low-THC cannabis to Texans with an approved list of conditions, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite calls for expansion, the program continued to serve a narrow patient population under stringent regulations.

Conclusion

The year 2024 was marked by contrasting approaches to cannabis legislation in Texas. While some lawmakers advocated for comprehensive legalization and regulation, others sought to impose stricter bans on THC products. At the same time, municipal decriminalization efforts signaled a shift in public sentiment at the local level, though these initiatives often faced legal challenges from state authorities. As Texas navigates the complexities of cannabis policy, the outcomes of these legislative efforts will significantly influence the state’s legal landscape in the years to come.