First Statewide Republican Elected Official Calls for the Legalization of Weed

 

AUSTIN – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has become the first statewide Republican elected official to call for legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes.  Miller wrote and released an editorial on the subject Friday.  

Here is Commissioner Miller's editorial on the legalization of marijuana:

As Texas Agriculture Commissioner, I am responsible for the licensing of more than 850 entities that currently grow, handle, sample or process hemp in Texas. Hemp and marijuana are two different names for the flowering plant known as cannabis. The legal difference between the two is the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. THC is what gives the ‘high’ feeling people associate with cannabis. By law, marijuana has a concentration of THC that is 0.3% or higher. Hemp has a concentration of THC that is 0.3% or lower by dry weight. 

It is our overall state policy on cannabis that I will focus on today as I share my thoughts with my fellow Texans. In a free society, government should only make something illegal for a powerful reason or set of facts. The freedom of the people to make their own choices and decisions is a fundamental principal of a true democracy.

The history of cannabis prohibition reflects the failed alcohol prohibition of the 1920’s. Complete with gangs, corruption, and widespread violence against the lives and liberties of American citizens.

As I look back, I believe that cannabis prohibition came from a place of fear, not from medical science or the analysis of social harm. Sadly, the roots of this came from a history of racism, classism, and a large central government with an authoritarian desire to control others. It is as anti-American in its origins as could be imaginable.

Today, in the 21st century, this must end. We must start with a new chapter and a new attitude about the use of cannabis – especially when it comes to its potential medicinal benefits.

As of today, thirty-nine states, including politically conservative states such as Oklahoma, Utah, and Florida, have legalized cannabis for compassionate use: also known as medical marijuana.

Beyond that, eighteen states, including conservative western states like Arizona, Montana, and Alaska, have legalized commercial cannabis sales to ALL adults.

While I am not sure that Texas is ready to go that far, I have seen firsthand the value of cannabis as medicine to so many Texans.

Those states that have gone before Texas are providing real world data and research about what they are doing right and what can be improved. But the roots for good Texas policy on cannabis have already been planted.

I worked diligently to bring hemp farming to Texas and supported the development of products such as hemp oil for medical use. These products are making a difference in the lives of many where other medicines have failed.

It is my goal next year to expand access to the compassionate use of cannabis products in Texas so that every Texan with a medical need has access to these medicines. 

When four out of five Texans support compassionate use, we need to have state law and state policy reflect that desire. I will urge our state legislature and our Governor to make that a top priority in the upcoming legislative session.

It is time for all of us, including the Governor, members of the Texas Legislature and others 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.

We owe it to our fellow Texans, especially those who are suffering, to lead or just get out of the way if we cannot formulate effective cannabis policy for Texas.

Editors Note: Search engines like Google use Artificial Intelligence to block disturbing or explicit words in headlines.  San Angelo LIVE! avoids those explicit words, like marijuana, in order to avoid that type censorship and provide our content to the largest audience possible. 

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CGM5, Thu, 07/21/2022 - 16:14

Like most young Americans, in my youth I smoked pot but, it was more than a few times. So I know how it affects you. After my teen years I left it behind because it wasn't something I enjoyed. That has been many years ago. However I believe it should be legalized. It's a lot less harmful than the dozens of different types of alcohol that are never more than 5 minutes away. No, I'm not a teetotaler, I still enjoy social drinks or a couple of fingers of Irish after a long day. I don't ever remember anyone  high on just pot starting fights or purposely driving reckless or any number of other aggressive things. Can't say those things about alcohol can you? 

In this regard you and I are much in alignment.

I smoked a little dope after I got a divorce from Lucky Wife Number One.  i was wandering, since I married young and post-divorce woke in a whole new world.  So I took a toke or two (I never learned how to roll one, by the way).

Anyway, I decided very quickly I did not need that method of release.  The last few times someone passed me a joint I politely passed it on to the next person.  I haven't even smelled the stuff in forty years.

I do not think weed to be the Devil's Lettuce, as it has been depicted here.  That's idiotic.  That does not mean I think everybody should light up whenever they like.  It is a mild-altering substance, and that ain't good.  I tried it and rejected it.  People are best able to deal with their issues if they have full control over their faculties.

Having said that, I like a beer now and then, and I like a decent wine with the right kind of dinner.  Getting shitfaced is NOT on the agenda.  I would guess that the pro-pot crowd would now holler at my hyprocrisy since I'm hinting pot is not okay but a bit of alcohol is.

But casual pot use?  No problem, especially since it appears to not drag out the evil in people to the extent that alcohol abuse does.

The key is moderation.

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