Texas is on the verge of rejecting two separate bills that aimed to decriminalize marijuana and expand access to medical cannabis for specific patients, reports Chron.
In March, a bipartisan group of lawmakers successfully passed a bill through the committee stage, which would effectively decriminalize cannabis possession and provide an opportunity for individuals to clear their criminal records. The bill received bipartisan approval from the House in April.
The Texas House also voted in favor of another bill to extend medical marijuana access to tens of thousands of residents. Currently, Texas permits low-THC marijuana products for patients with certain conditions through the Texas Compassionate Use Program. The proposed bill, introduced by Republicans, sought to include chronic pain sufferers as qualifying patients.
The fate of both bills now rests in the hands of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who determines which bills the Senate will discuss and vote on before the current legislative session ends on Memorial Day. Given the limited time remaining, experts predict that Patrick is unlikely to prioritize these bills for Senate debate, resulting in their failure to pass.
“I join with those House Republicans who oppose this step toward legalization of marijuana,” Patrick tweeted in April, adding that the bill would be “dead” in the Senate.
If the decriminalization bill does dies in the Senate, it will be the third time Patrick has killed off such a measure by allowing it to languish in the chamber.