Texas Agriculture Commissioner backs Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's THC ban proposal
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The state's agriculture commissioner said he stands behind Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick when it comes to his push to ban THC products, the current status of which he described as a "wild west" in Texas.
Sid Miller published an opinion letter stating the current laws have created a "unregulated market for recreational marijuana."
"Texas needs clear and understandable laws. Texas Republicans need to be rowing in the same direction in order to achieve this goal. That is why I stand with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick while expecting the legislature to do its job," Miller said in the letter.
Last month, Patrick announced that in the upcoming legislative session he would move to ban all forms of consumable THC in the state, claiming that loopholes in the law allow retailers to sell "life-threatening, unregulated forms of THC."
Miller said he does support hemp as a commercial product and supports expanding Texas' medical marijuana program. However, he said he does not support recreational use.
"What’s worse, there are no consumer standards, safety inspections, or chemical analysis of these products to determine their level of intoxicants or even their basic safety," Miller said.
"Even if the legislature voted to legalize recreational marijuana tomorrow, that legislation would create a legal market with rules, guardrails, checks, and balances. What we have now is the wild west," Miller said.
The state legislature reconvenes on Jan. 14.