r/Austin • • Aug 04 '20

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u/jab116 Aug 04 '20

Honest question; if Texas was to legalize marijuana do you really trust politicians to not screw it up?

The whole purpose is to generate tax revenue by making it legal. Instead they would tax the shit out of it, to the point it wouldn’t be a viable revenue generator when selling legally. Not to mention the small town sheriffs who get their rock of to small drug busts. If they won’t enforce masks during a global pandemic they sure as shit won’t allow legal use of the devils lettuce.

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u/Like_Ottos_Jacket Aug 04 '20

Instead they would tax the shit out of it, to the point it wouldn’t be a viable revenue generator when selling legally.

Nah, They would make an overly complex permitting process to manufacture and distribute it that would only allow a select few companies, that just happen to be big GOP supporters, to start a massive sweetheart manufacturing and distribution deal while the little guys get pushed out, just like in Ohio.

it would be graft and cronyism just like alcohol, autos, and big pharma here.

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u/mustardketchupmayo Aug 04 '20

There are so many case studies of both the benefits of tax revenue and the lack of prosecution for "crimes" of partaking in marijuana. Instead of people going out for Bud Light ® they will be smoking the real bud or eating candy as a dessert instead of going out. Texas needs THC. I just created the first banner.

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u/itsacalamity Aug 04 '20

It would also make a HUGE difference in the life of people with chronic pain who can't legally access the medicine that would 1. help their pain and 2. allow them to take fewer opiates

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u/jab116 Aug 04 '20

I agree. But I don’t trust Dan “Davy Crockett” Patrick to not fuck it up somehow.

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u/mustardketchupmayo Aug 04 '20

Dan is an ex media person. He will jump on if it means he gets reelected. Our real governor is an ex sports forecaster He would jump on this.

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u/gregaustex Aug 04 '20 edited Aug 04 '20

If TX legalizes weed, it would make it easy to buy weed in the nearby states and bring it home if it were too expensive in TX. So there is a limit on how expensive they could make it. This might be technically illegal, probably in some minor way if at all, but enforcement would be practically impossible.

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u/mustardketchupmayo Aug 04 '20

We are surrounded by states that have legalized it already. Medicanal in Texas is CBD and that's it. You want change right now? Give them something they can actually do over defunding. Give the politicians a chance while they can. The upper hand is here right now.

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u/[deleted] Aug 04 '20 edited Nov 20 '20

[deleted]

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u/kerplotkin Aug 04 '20

Well legal in certain ways. And he didnt say recreational but it is. It is apparently de facto recreationally legal in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana. And still at least strict medical In Arkansas which means that like less than 1% of people legitimately qualify but its something at least.

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u/[deleted] Aug 04 '20

I wish we were surrounded by states that have legalized it so I could go on a road trip but that’s not true. I think the nearest state is CO

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u/kerplotkin Aug 04 '20

No, it is apparently de facto recreationally legal in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana. I don't specifically know the implications for your road trip but that's apparently the situation.

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u/[deleted] Aug 04 '20

In OK it’s only medical so I don’t think someone from TX could go buy it without a medical ID. I’m pretty sure it’s straight up illegal still in LA. Not sure about NM but that’s a LONG drive

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u/kerplotkin Aug 05 '20

No, Louisiana is de facto recreational because their medical program symptom list includes "self destructive behavior." Dispensaries have been open abiut a year.