By Three Bills Filed as Session Opens
Texas Democrats pre-filed three adult-use cannabis legalization proposals this week, NewsRadio 1080 KRLD reports. State Reps. John Bucy III of Austin and Joe Moody of El Paso filed HB 362 and HB 369, respectively. Both measures are named the Texas Regulation of Cannabis Act.
State Sen. Carol Alvarado of Houston also filed SB 237 on Monday. The Senate bill contains very similar language to the two House proposals.
The filings come as Texas lawmakers kick off a new legislative session. Each bill would create a regulated commercial market in the state.
What the Proposals Would Do
The bills would allow adults to cultivate up to 12 plants at home. They would also create regulations for the cultivation, testing, and sale of commercial cannabis products. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation would be tasked with setting up the industry.
Personal cannabis possession would be capped at 2 ounces of flower and 15 grams of concentrate. Adults would also be allowed to share the possession limit with other adults. The possession caps apply to adults 21 and older under the proposals.
The three measures share substantially similar frameworks. Bucy and Moody’s House bills carry identical names. Alvarado’s Senate companion contains very similar language.
Political Shift Follows Election
The flurry of legalization proposals follows a major victory by Texas Democrats during last week’s election. The party captured control of the state’s House of Representatives. Democrats also won the governorship in the same election.
The new political landscape gives the proposals a different outlook than in previous sessions. Moody and Bucy have filed similar measures before without success. Alvarado has also championed legalization in prior sessions.
The bills now await committee assignments and hearings as the session gets underway. Lawmakers will debate the proposals in the coming months.
