Texas Democrats file to legalize marijuana after historic win. Then residents see they can grow 12 plants at home: ‘do we legalize it altogether?’

Texas lawmakers are already moving to change cannabis laws following a series of election wins for Democrats last week. As reported by Chron, multiple bills have been prefiled for the 2027 session, signaling a major shift in how the state might handle marijuana moving forward. These proposals cover everything from full legalization for adults to expanding the existing medical program.

One of the most notable developments is the election of Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin, who defeated Dan Patrick. Goodwin has made it clear that the state is weighing its options regarding cannabis regulation. She said, “There’s been conversations about, do we expand the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which is medicinal marijuana, or do we legalize it altogether?” She added, “So we still need to have conversations about that.”

House Rep. Joe Moody and John Bucy III have taken the lead by filing HB 369 and HB 362, both titled the Texas Regulation of Cannabis Act. These bills suggest legalizing the use and possession of cannabis for anyone aged 21 and older. If passed, the legislation would end arrests for possession and permit people to carry up to two ounces of cannabis, including a limit of 15 grams of concentrate. A particularly interesting part of these bills is the provision for home cultivation, which would let residents grow up to 12 cannabis plants at home for their own use.

These House bills also set up a structure for commercial sales

The Department of Licensing and Regulation would run the program, and the Commission of Licensing and Regulation would handle the rules. To fund this, retail purchases would face a 20 percent tax on top of standard sales taxes, while transfers from producers to dispensaries would have a 15 percent tax. The revenue would be split between schools, drug treatment programs, veterans’ support funds, and local governments. The bills also stop local governments from blocking marijuana businesses from opening in their areas.

Rep. Mihaela Plesa has introduced a different bill, HB 330, which focuses specifically on the medical side of things. This proposal would allow patients to access medical cannabis for conditions like dysmenorrhea or premenstrual dysphoric disorder that cause menstrual pain.

In the Senate, Sen. Carol Alvarado has introduced SB 237. This bill shares a similar framework for legalization but differs in a few key ways. It increases the possession limit to 2.5 ounces and allows counties the authority to prohibit cannabis businesses from operating. Instead of adding new excise taxes, this version aims to generate funds through business licensing and application fees.

The legislative session for the 90th Texas Legislature is scheduled to start on January 12, 2027.