A comprehensive marijuana legalization proposal advanced through its first reading in the House of Representatives today and was referred to the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee.
House Bill 1208, first introduced by State Representative Jessica Gonzalez in November, would legalize marijuana for those 21 and older, creating a regulated market for cultivation, sales, and possession.
The referral comes on the same day the Texas Senate’s State Affairs Committee unanimously approved a separate bill that would ban all THC in hemp products, highlighting the stark divide in how lawmakers in the state want to handle marijuana and hemp policy.
HB 1208 proposes a regulated, taxed, and licensed system of marijuana businesses, with strict safety regulations in place for consumers. If enacted, those 21 and older would be allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 15 grams of concentrates. Local governments would receive financial assistance to manage regulatory costs, and conflict-of-interest policies would limit industry influence over state oversight.
Supporters of legalization argue that Texas voters are on their side. A February poll from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs found that 62% of Texans support legalizing recreational marijuana, with 79% backing medical marijuana. Despite this public support, Texas remains the largest states without a legal adult-use marijuana market.
HB 1208 now awaits consideration in committee.
