The latest marijuana news from The Texas Tribune.
A memo obtained by The Texas Tribune instructs DPS officers to cite and release suspects in misdemeanor marijuana cases "as appropriate." Officials said the goal is to continue enforcement even though some prosecutors aren't taking new pot cases. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2f717e4d0c0338064a3736352664e63f/Police Officer State Trooper SK TT.jpg)
In this edition of the TribCast, Emma talks to Patrick, Matthew, Cassi and Jolie about Beto O’Rourke’s debate performance, the accusations shaking up the Texas House speaker’s office and what Texas lawmakers really knew about how their new hemp bill would impact marijuana prosecutions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/14697ad88cfdd847a0983df5405db922/TribCast 7_31_19 JF TT.jpg)
Crime labs repeatedly told lawmakers and budget officials that they couldn't distinguish between hemp and marijuana without new testing resources. The issue got almost no attention. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6047324ca37432dea4966e4d8e1a6f45/03_Marijuana_Plants_Texas_MKC_TT.jpg)
Texas lawmakers made it legal to farm hemp and, incidentally, harder to prosecute people caught with small amounts of marijuana, which is still illegal. Now they're bickering about whether that's the fault of the new law or of local prosecutors. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/77cc6aa32e2da2ae73f88da2d10f69d2/Cannabis_sativa_plant_HEMP.JPG)
Prosecutors and crime lab scientists were scrambling to find a solution after a change in the state's definition of marijuana imperiled criminal cases. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cbc045708a9b81c4b0847418dcacf53b/Marijuana plants iStock TT.jpg)
A law legalizing hemp changed the definition of marijuana, causing district attorneys across the state to drop low-level possession cases and stop accepting new ones. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/27f0f699efb34e7c006d9e5914855f90/Marijuana iStock TT.jpg)
Many prosecutors say the way Gov. Greg Abbott and lawmakers redefined marijuana requires new lab testing to prove it’s different from recently legalized hemp. The situation has created a patchwork of consequences for people caught with pot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4e40c3593fd9ccfe307fd08d6958bd49/Marijuana plant iStock TT.jpg)
The new law changed the definition of marijuana, and prosecutors and crime labs say they don't have the resources to test if a substance is legal hemp or marijuana. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1d0418ea0f13f98f643600f4984b73ee/02_Marijuana_Plants_Texas_MKC_TT.jpg)
While lawmakers in the 86th Texas Legislature advanced measures on some controversial issues, they know it often takes several sessions to pass bills and say they intend to refile them next time. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/082623ab54822a544d90f8a63d4b6795/UnderDome-13-Lead-TTSite.jpg)
Earlier this month, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said a bill that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana was "dead on arrival" in the Senate. But his party's platform supports marijuana decriminalization. So what gives? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0d205c85e8e16d8aa1a068c0c612cb2b/Texas Republican Convention BD TT.jpg)
If the House approves changes made by the upper chamber, the bill will head to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c44f6d3d8c494ae82b835c6a051dfcaa/Medical Cannabis Marijuana IS TT.jpg)
The power of incumbency is more than raising money for campaigns and having a well-known political name. Changing the state's election laws — or even debating issues that resonate strongly with voters — can set the rules and frame the arguments for the next election cycle. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a3e9f255c71bc4a169ccd72b532b26e/Midterm_Election_late_polling_place_1_MS_TT.jpg)
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has expressed wariness to expanding the Compassionate Use Program, but the bill's Senate sponsor said Patrick helped craft the version that cleared a key hurdle Friday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d98b7161558f4fe209ba3b9f74e2f451/13 Senator Watson Campbell MG.jpg)
House Bill 1325 would legalize hemp and hemp-derived extracts like CBD oil as long as they contain no more than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive element in marijuana known as THC. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fabd817520ce2d8797e8c608ca187f05/01 Charles Perry Senate Floor JF TT.jpg)
It was the second time in as many days that the lower chamber moved to increase which medical conditions allow Texans to use CBD oil for treatment. But both bills face an uphill battle in the Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/03a7e5c49b144fff4d26db2e12488c5d/0002_Stephanie_Klick_Juan_Figueroa_May_5_TT.jpg)
The bill by state Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville, is one of two that aim to expand the scope of the narrow Compassionate Use Act and have gained traction this legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bebe302a7d4c10de351ad1c378a75b27/08_Marijuana_Plants_Texas_MKC_TT.jpg)
His comment comes the day after the Texas House gave preliminary approval to the bill in a 98-43 vote. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/66996b50392dd205d434d6c9f3a4ea6c/03_Patrick_Kolkhorst_Conroe_SB_678_MG.jpg)
The House vote Monday is the first time the lower chamber approved such a measure, marking significant progress. But the opposition of the lieutenant governor remains a major hurdle. Full Story
Hemp is a cousin of the marijuana plant, but it contains low levels of the psychoactive element in marijuana known as THC. The House's bill will now go to the Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a074176b6b627982fe4f9233a2ac937/01_Tracy_King_JF_TT.jpg)
It’s unlikely Texas will become the next Colorado or California anytime soon. But when it comes to loosening criminal penalties or expanding medicinal use, how much of what each side says is true? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/02/08/Lena-EMBED-CCR_8227.JPG)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2f717e4d0c0338064a3736352664e63f/Police%20Officer%20State%20Trooper%20SK%20TT.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/14697ad88cfdd847a0983df5405db922/TribCast%207_31_19%20JF%20TT.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cbc045708a9b81c4b0847418dcacf53b/Marijuana%20plants%20iStock%20TT.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/27f0f699efb34e7c006d9e5914855f90/Marijuana%20iStock%20TT.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4e40c3593fd9ccfe307fd08d6958bd49/Marijuana%20plant%20iStock%20TT.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0d205c85e8e16d8aa1a068c0c612cb2b/Texas%20Republican%20Convention%20BD%20TT.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c44f6d3d8c494ae82b835c6a051dfcaa/Medical%20Cannabis%20Marijuana%20IS%20TT.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d98b7161558f4fe209ba3b9f74e2f451/13%20Senator%20Watson%20Campbell%20MG.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fabd817520ce2d8797e8c608ca187f05/01%20Charles%20Perry%20Senate%20Floor%20JF%20TT.jpg)