Texans have comments, advice about legalizing cannabis for AG Ken Paxton

It’s not every day that residents of the Lone Star State get the chance to speak their minds about cannabis to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

While some believe Paxton and Texas Republicans like Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will never free the green, others are shaking their fists at the prohibition of cannabis. In a time when Texans 21 and older can buy ammunition from a vending machine, it seems increasingly nonsensical to not legalize and regulate a plant such as cannabis.

Though hemp-derived cannabis products like delta-8 edibles and THCa flower are currently legal in Texas, marijuana remains illegal. Despite the majority of Texas residents supporting some form of marijuana legalization, the state’s elected officials continue to ignore the will of the people.

To better understand how passionately Texans feel about the issue of legalizing marijuana, LoneStarLive.com created a form and asked readers to answer the following prompt: If you could tell Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton one thing to convince him to free the green (aka cannabis), what would it be?

Using generative AI, we were able to group the responses into six categories to better assess the multifaceted and complex perspectives of Texas residents regarding marijuana legalization.

Hemp and marijuana news in Texas

1. Health and medicinal benefits

Many comments highlight the health and medicinal benefits of cannabis, particularly as an alternative to addictive pharmaceuticals and in providing relief for chronic conditions. This theme underscores the argument that legalization can improve the quality of life for many individuals.

Here are a few notable responses received by LoneStarLive.com:

• “People who served this country and who will never be the same, be it physically or mentally, would rather have Marijuana than addictive pain meds or be chemically dependent on other pharmaceuticals. Literally millions of people would benefit from using thc to help with chronic pain and depression, among other things. Legalization would benefit the state not only in tax revenue but in the productivity of more people being able to function and work.”
• “As a disabled vet I’ve used cannabis for 15 years. (It) helped get me off the painkiller the va had me on and I’ve been 5 years clean of opiates because of cannabis…it helps my ptsd and my traumatic brain injury…it gives me a chance to sleep at night and have less pain….u r hurting veterans by keeping it illegal…keeping it illegal hurts people who need it.”

2. Economic benefits

This category includes comments that discuss the potential economic gains from marijuana legalization, such as increased tax revenue, job creation, and reduced legal costs associated with minor offenses.

Here are a few notable responses:

• “Think of the tax revenue but more importantly think about the time that freeing up the court system from these minor offenses and would get a lot of people out of jail, helps with the over crowding situation. For goodness sake, (it’s) legal in half the country and WASHINGTON DC.”
• “Do you want to be remembered for acting against the interest of the people you represent or for freeing them, for finding ways to bring in tax revenue and bring property taxes down?”

3. Social and criminal justice reform

Some responses focused on the social and criminal justice benefits of legalizing marijuana, such as reducing the burden on the legal system and addressing incarceration for nonviolent offenders.

Here are a few notable responses:

• “Go after violent criminals not potheads.”
• “The medicinal use for most users, outweigh the cost to house non violent offenders of marijuana. It’s a NECESSITY for a lot of Americans. Legalize, Tax, sit back and Relax.”

4. Critique of government officials

Some responses were critical of Texas officials, particularly Paxton, and emphasized a perceived disconnect between political decisions and public interest.

Here are a few notable things people would like to tell the Texas Attorney General:

• “To get his head out of his ass and listen to the people that put him in office. You are a public servant, so start acting like it and stop letting dark money control your choices.”
• “Indicted felon, Ken Paxton, needs to worry more about his own marital issues and relations with his mistress than the legality of cannabis. When nearly half of the U.S. states have already legalized (marijuana) at a recreational level with no major issues, it makes no sense to continue this draconian ban. Texas is missing out on tax dollars that could provide better funding to our state. Maybe a joint would help Ken Paxton to view his constituents with more empathy.”

5. Safety and comparison to alcohol

Many responses drew comparisons between cannabis and alcohol, arguing that the former is a safer alternative while calling out the perceived hypocrisy in current legalization policies.

Here are a few exemplary comments:

• “I’m not sure what the big deal is about legalizing cannabis, if other states are legalizing cannabis. I feel like drinking alcohol is way worse. Just my opinion.”
• “Make alcohol illegal. cannabis is safer and helps medically. God created it. Alcohol is a slow death and kills others.”

6. Concerns over legalization

Not everyone is in favor of marijuana legalization. Some responses expressed concern over the potential negative impacts on youth and public health, while others used the form to simply share they’ve lost hope.

Here are a few examples:

• “Please don’t make marijuana legal. It’s a powerful drug that will only continue to kill the dreams and aspirations of our youth.”
• “Lol, I think we are going to go backwards in regards (to) freeing green in Texas in the next leg session. hope I’m wrong.”