Texas Ag Commissioner Votes Support for Medical Pot Access

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller published an editorial Friday calling for improved access to medical marijuana in the state, writing that state leaders “should lead the way or just walk away if we can’t formulate an effective cannabis policy for Texas.”

In the letter, which Miller posted on the Texas Department of Agriculture’s official website, the commissioner noted that he worked to legalize hemp in the state and is now responsible for regulating hundreds of hemp companies. He wrote that he also supports the development of medical-grade products, including hemp oil, that improve the lives of Texans every day when other medicines have failed. Miller added that he will improve access to medicinal cannabis over the next year. In 2015, the state legalized the use of low-THC cannabis products to treat epilepsy, adding additional qualifying medical conditions in 2019 and 2021.

“My goal over the next year is to expand access to compassionate use of cannabis products in Texas so that every Texan with a medical need has access to these medicines,” Miller wrote.

Cannabis enforcement mired in bias

In his editorial, Miller noted that the history of cannabis prohibition and enforcement in the United States was riddled with prejudice and values ​​that were at odds with professed American ideals. He also pointed out that cannabis policy decisions were often made based on misinformation and emotion rather than reality, and that government should only make things illegal “for a valid reason or set of facts.”

“Looking back, I believe cannabis prohibition came from a place of fear, not medical science or social harm analysis. Unfortunately, the roots of this come from a history of racism, classism, and a big central government with an authoritarian desire to control others. It’s as anti-American in its origins as you can imagine,” Miller wrote. “Today, in the 21st century, that has to end. We need to start a new chapter and a new attitude towards the use of cannabis – especially when it comes to its potential medical benefits.”

Miller, a Republican, noted in his message that 39 states “including politically conservative states like Oklahoma, Utah, and Florida” have passed measures to legalize the medical use of cannabis. More than a dozen others “including conservative western states like Arizona, Montana, and Alaska have legalized commercial cannabis sales” for all adults 21 and older.

“While I’m not sure Texas is willing to go that far, I’ve seen firsthand the value of cannabis as a medicine for so many Texans,” Miller wrote.

Mixed messages from Texas Republicans

The Republican leadership in Texas has not expressed a unified stance on cannabis policy. During his campaign for re-election in January, Gov. Greg Abbot said that Texas prisons should be reserved for “dangerous criminals who could harm others.”

“Small possession of marijuana is not the kind of trespass that we want to hoard prisons with,” Abbot said.

But Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is one of the state’s most vocal opponents of cannabis.

“The Lt. Governor has made it pretty clear he’s not on board to relax the state’s drug laws on marijuana,” said Joshua Blank, research director of the University of Texas Austin’s Texas Politics Project, earlier this year. “But I think like any other public figure, if the pressure continues to mount, especially within his own party, there’s no reason why he can’t change his mind.”

Noting that four out of five Texans support compassionate use of cannabis, Miller urged Abbot and state legislators to improve access to medicinal cannabis during the next legislative session.

“It’s time for all of us, including the governor, members of the Texas Legislature and others, to come together and put our political differences aside to have an honest conversation about cannabis: where we’ve been, where we’re going and the role of government plays should play properly,” Miller concluded. “We owe it to our fellow Texas people, especially those who are suffering, to lead the way or just step out of the way when we cannot formulate an effective Texas cannabis policy.”