TEXAS AG COMMISSIONER SID MILLER CALLS FOR LEGALIZATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says he wants to expand access to medical marijuana.
In an editorial published Friday, Miller called for “a new chapter and a new attitude” about cannabis use, particularly legalized cannabis for medicinal use. He said he will urge Governor Greg Abbott and state legislators to prioritize the matter in the next legislative session.
Miller said it is time for Texas officials to “come together and set aside our political differences to have an honest conversation about cannabis: where we have been, where we are going and what role government should properly play.”
Texas currently only allows medical marijuana for patients with serious conditions like epilepsy, autism, terminal cancer or an incurable neurodegenerative disease. Patients can be prescribed medical marijuana as long as it has no more than 0.5 percent of THC, cannabis’ main psychoactive compound.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 37 states and the District of Columbia allow medical marijuana, while 19 states allow marijuana for recreational use.
While Miller said he does not believe Texas is ready to fully legalize marijuana, he has “seen firsthand the value of cannabis as medicine to so many Texans.”
Miller is opposed in November’s general election by Democrat Susan Hays, a cannabis attorney who supports its legalization.
Me and my family recently returned from Oklahoma. Ever other store was a pot shop. Every store we stopped at had help wanted adds. We asked why no help the reply was nobody can pass a drug test. They are also always under the influence. Just what the next generation needs to see. I have no problem for medical, but buy a prescription only. The trip was very disappointing to say the least.
Marijuana had out to be legal anytime to anyone whatsoever. It is far less harmful than alcohol. Those who think otherwise have not truly evaluated the consequences or circumstances related to the consumption apart from the illegality of the aforementioned.
Why does the majority of older people in this so called “great state” have little knowledge on a flower that could save us getting prescriptions from doctors? It’s okay to use the public as a lab test and prescribe chemicals the patient doesn’t know about but Marijuana is the devils drug, which scripture was that again? Face reality. It’s not 1955 anymore it’s time to do what’s right for the people who need it. Does it mean that we believe everything Sid says? No but at least he has the right idea on this subject. Texas is going backwards and only a few people will admit it.
Satan has many weapons to seduce we humans,but in my life I have never be attacked,run off the road, cussed, or confronted by a person high on weed. However I can not say the same for alcohol users as it is all the above and I don’t do either.
I disagree with this completely. This is simply the first step in legalizing it totally. A vote for this is simply a vote for full legalization.
If it is so helpful for medical purposes, it should be managed by the FDA and regulated like all other medications.
Sounds like a political Move in order to get votes, Pandering to Pot Heads , He just lost my vote…
In all honesty, I think Texas should legalize it medically. I am an epileptic and definitely far from a “dangerous criminal”. It shouldn’t even be viewed that way. The prescription “medicine” I take causes symptoms that are just unbearable to where I can’t even eat. I have seizures as well. Medical marijuana is totally different. It helps the side effects go away. Help the people around you.
Sid,
We don’t need this in Texas. I’m sure all the profiteering drug heads will have a hay day with this comment. Sid, before you say something this stupid look at the statistics of Oklahoma. Nothing has been positive. All we have seen is Oklahoma is: more drug abuse, more government welfare, more crime. more high school and college drop-outs, worst addictions to worse drugs. A real Texan would do the research before opening their mouth.
When a loved one is in pain, wasting away unable to eat, and needs this marvelous herb in order to increase their appetite, reduce the overwhelming pain, and live as as healthy and happily as they can with the time they have left, let’s have the compassion to allow them to have it.
Stop treating Medical Marijuana Patients like second rate citizens and common criminals by forcing them to the dangerous black market for their medicine.
Risking incarceration to obtain the medicine you need is no way to be forced to live.
Support Medical Marijuana Now!
“[A] federal policy that prohibits physicians from alleviating suffering by prescribing marijuana for seriously ill patients is misguided, heavy-handed, and inhumane.” — Dr. Jerome Kassirer, “Federal Foolishness and Marijuana,” editorial, New England Journal of Medicine, January 30, 1997
“[M]arijuana has an extremely wide acute margin of safety for use under medical supervision and cannot cause lethal reactions … [G]reater harm is caused by the legal consequences of its prohibition than possible risks of medicinal use.” — American Public Health Association, Resolution #9513, “Access to Therapeutic Marijuana/Cannabis,” 1995
“When appropriately prescribed and monitored, marijuana/cannabis can provide immeasurable benefits for the health and well-being of our patients … We support state and federal legislation not only to remove criminal penalties associated with medical marijuana, but further to exclude marijuana/cannabis from classification as a Schedule I drug.” — American Academy of HIV Medicine, letter to New York Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, November 11, 2003
“The National Nurses Society on Addictions urges the federal government to remove marijuana from the Schedule I category immediately, and make it available for physicians to prescribe. NNSA urges the American Nurses’ Association and other health care professional organizations to support patient access to this medicine.” — National Nurses Society on Addictions, May 1, 1995
“[The AAFP accepts the use of medical marijuana] under medical supervision and control for specific medical indications.” — American Academy of Family Physicians, 1989, reaffirmed in 2001
“[We] recommend … allow[ing] [marijuana] prescription where medically appropriate.” — National Association for Public Health Policy, November 15, 1998
“Therefore be it resolved that the American Nurses Association will: — Support the right of patients to have safe access to therapeutic marijuana/cannabis under appropriate prescriber supervision.” — American Nurses Association, resolution, 2003
While I can understand your push for the alleviation of pain in chronically and/or terminally ill patients, do you not have any more recent endorsements? The most recent is almost 20 years old and most are a quarter of a century. It’s kind of like looking in a 1955 World Book encyclopedia and reading the reasons why man will never be able to travel into space. Surely there are more recent studies out there.
The fact that it is still a Schedule 1 narcotic is the main reason why it cant be researched or “endorsed” more.