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.