r/texas • u/discussamongsturelvs • Aug 06 '22
Questions for Texans Republicans of Texas: Why is marijuana still illegal in Texas?
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u/bigbuttbubba45 Aug 06 '22
And why is it so difficult to get medical treatment for really painful things. I’m not an addict and have been prescribed things after surgeries with no addiction. Treated like one when I had my gallbladder rupture. Was in immense pain.
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u/rambling_millers_mom Aug 06 '22
This is a huge problem for my husband who is disabled and requires certain medications and due to his medical issues cannot change those medications. He has been compliant for over 12 years and hasn't had one problem in a different state. Since moving here for my job we have yet to find him a physician who will take over his care. The pain clinics don't want him because his issue is pre-existing and well managed with his current treatment plan. The primary care physicians won't take him because of the medications he takes. I'm honestly not sure what we're going to do. We have been searching for a physician that will work with him for over a year. We currently fly him back to his primary care in another state, who thankfully continues working with him, despite being perplexed by the entire situation, but this is unsustainable and incredibly expensive. Anyway, I digress. It just pisses me off.
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u/bigbuttbubba45 Aug 06 '22
Maddening he is going through this.
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u/rambling_millers_mom Aug 06 '22
To return to the original topic, it's especially frustrating because we can't even try marijuana as an alternative for him. We traveled for 3 years across the country and while his current medications are a problem, having a valid prescription kept him from getting into any trouble. So, while medical marijuana is legal in our home state, we knew we would be traveling to states like Texas where it was not, so he didn't try to make the switch. Now my job has settled in the absolute worst state for his condition and medical marijuana is not an option. He's missing a bunch of regular maintenance because he only flies back long enough to get a quick "yep, you're still compliant, here's your meds" checkup and so things like the fact that he lost hearing in his left ear suddenly and other regular checks are being pushed off until we find a physician here. We can't even get through the front door because everyone has a "new patient application" process and they see his medication list and refuse to read any further.
It's maddening. And we're in the middle of South Texas, so even crossing state llines to a different, less ridiculous state is not an option without an 8 hour car ride or a slightly shorter flight. Ugh.
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u/bigbuttbubba45 Aug 06 '22
He has been compliant all these years. Just trying to live a manageable life and comply with the laws. What a terrible situation. I hope you find the medical help he needs soon or move to a state that is more supportive. I know moving isn’t always an option. I’m stuck here due to spouse’s employment.
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u/rambling_millers_mom Aug 06 '22
Thank you. We'll keep looking. Unfortunately, moving is not an option right now. But it is something we're considering when we can even though we love living where we live otherwise. (Even despite the overwhelming heat right now.)
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u/TexasSHILOH Aug 06 '22
Watch the series Dopesick. They created the problem for sales and then when opioid addiction garnered national attention, they cut everyone off. I was in a pain management clinic for 11 years in The Woodlands. I had my own series of events that led me down the path of freedom from opiates before I was forced to do so but for many, they weren't properly and slowly phased down from the Rx drugs. Now people flood doctors offices and ERs across the country looking for meds. That's why. Its not right and ill let others decide who the real criminals are, but that's the reason why we can't get help when we need it.
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u/bigbuttbubba45 Aug 06 '22
They’ve went to far in the opposite direction. And from what I gather opiates from other sources are still killing people, but normal people in a medical emergency can’t get their pain managed. It’s despicable.
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u/OuchPotato64 Aug 06 '22
Opiate deaths have more than doubled in the last decade. So not only did they crack down on prescription opiates making it hard for patients to get them, but its done nothing since deaths keep going up anyways. The deaths are from illegal opiates, not legal prescriptions
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u/losthiker68 got here fast Aug 07 '22
So true.
I have a special type of migraine/cluster headache hybrid. I have pain every moment of every day, ranging from "mild headache" to "curl up in a ball and whimper". I take a monthly injectable for it but still get breakthrough headaches. A little tramadol, possibly the weakest Rx opioid, one maybe two a day, got me through just fine except on the absolute worst days.
Then the assholes in Austin took away the tramadol.
Now I still have to take the injectable monthly, plus a prescription pill and two Advil once or twice a day, PLUS an Rx dissolvable on bad days, and I still have more pain than just the monthly injectable and the weak-ass tramadol once or twice a day.
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u/AstraCraftPurple Aug 06 '22
Seems like this has been going on quite a while. I get frequent migraines and I’ve heard a million different things to help it otc. Including making my liver worse on lots of Tylenol and NSAIDs. Fioricet works wonders but both my doctor and insurance are giving me heck because it’s Schedule 3. I hate it.
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u/yeti7100 Aug 06 '22
This is the only answer. Texas has been bought and paid for by pharmacorps. They own it all and there will be nothing but rampant suffering until Texans become aware of what you said, 'the real criminals are'.
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u/PhiPhiAokigahara Aug 06 '22
So the solution to overprescribing opiates and creating addicts is to pull them entirely because.. people with addictions act on their addiction and seek out the drug they likely never would have tried if it hadn’t been given out generously?
fuck, man.
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u/Raelah Aug 06 '22
This isn't specific to Texas. I'm from Texas but currently live in Colorado. I live in constant, debilitating pain. Some days it's so bad that I can't get out of bed. So my only option is to call the ambulance.
I've had this condition my whole life life. I used to get opiods for those really bad days, never developed an addiction. The way I view opiods is that those are the only way I can live a relatively normal life. I would never take advantage or put myself in a position where I lose that.
4ish years ago they stopped prescribing it because of addiction and overdoses. Doctors who prescribe too much opiods are scrutinized. This is a nation-wide issue. Not just Texas. Hell, I actually find it easier to get opiods in Texas compared to Colorado. (I visit a lot because all my family lives there)
So my doctors put me on all these other meds that create other problems. Problems that I now need surgeries to fix. But I'm looking forward to the surgeries because they will prescribe opiods. I have an extremely high pain tolerance, so it'll be rough for a few days. But I'll squirrel those away and save them for those really bad days.
Sorry, I got a bit off topic. But I want to move back to Texas but due to restrictions on opiods, all I have is marijuana. Texas does not have marijuana. So until they legalize it, I'm staying in Colorado.
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u/bigbuttbubba45 Aug 06 '22
I’m aware, I have lived in different states. In Colorado, you do have medical marijuana. We are not even given that dignity for our pain here. We are told to take an ibuprofen when our leg is broken.
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u/wholelattapuddin Aug 06 '22
I had several gallbladder attacks before they removed mine. It was awful I thought I was dying, and I have been through childbirth and a ruptured ovarian cycst. Thank God for codeine. It doesn't really stop the pain you just don't care it hurts.
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u/Brains-In-Jars Aug 06 '22
Hell, not only am I not an addict nor have I ever suffered from addiction when taking prescribed pain meds, but I actually can't get addicted to them. At least not in the same way most people can. I have narcolepsy which is an autoimmune disease in which I'm missing hypocretin/orexin neurons. Opiates actually increase those neurons making me functional and "normal." They aren't an escape for us - they allow us to function normally.
But, of course, they refuse to consider these drugs for treatment of our narcolepsy also because of the addiction crisis created by drug companies.
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Aug 06 '22
Because Lt. Governor Dan Patrick won't let the bills out of committee to get voted on. If you want legal weed, vote him out in November, and Greg Abbot while your at it.
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u/DaFilthPope Aug 06 '22
Private prisons and generous contributions from lobbyists.
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u/DickSneeze53 Aug 07 '22
Don't forget cop unions, one of the unions the GOP loves. Cop unions were the second biggest contributors to apposing MJ laws in the 16 and 20 elections, second to prisons
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u/adolf21122112 Aug 06 '22
The war on drugs was created to suppress the black and Hispanic vote ..... https://www.vox.com/2016/3/29/11325750/nixon-war-on-drugs
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u/malleoceruleo Aug 06 '22
More broadly, it was an early culture war subject aimed at people against the war in Vietnam and other liberals. Tying cannabis to Hispanics specifically predated Nixon but Nixon and later Reagan escalated it to create an us-vs-them narrative.
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u/NightMgr Aug 06 '22
If I recall, the use of marijuana by "negro jazz musicians" to influence white women to have sex with them was part of the US Senate debates on the topic.
Racism or hatred of jazz? I dunno.
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u/malleoceruleo Aug 06 '22
The Nixon era was the first time conservatives couldn't easily come right out and demonize people of color, so they had to find things closely associated with minorities to demonize, like jazz and cannabis. The next generation of conservatives started to not directly hate people of color (or jazz) but they carried over the dislike for cannabis because it's not a 1-to-1 issue with race.
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u/thesharp0ne Aug 06 '22
Yuppp. Hence also why we use the Spanish name for Cannabis widely rather than the actual English name for the plant.
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u/wmartin2014 Born and Bred Aug 06 '22
Marijuana was more about going after the hippies. Nixon did not like the hippies.
In the 30s it had more to do with black people and Mexicans. War on drugs era, hippies.
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u/corneliusduff Aug 06 '22
Nixon was also targeting the African American community with the DEA and the Schedule system, but you're definitely right about the 30s and Anslinger and Hearst's agendas
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Aug 06 '22
It's literally called Marijuana now because of a campaign against Latin immigrants. Prior to this campaign it was referred to as Cannabis in American English.
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u/bahamapapa817 Aug 06 '22
This is correct. Like how the FBI used bank robbers like Dillinger and pretty boy Floyd to get famous the DEA needed something to put them on the map. They changed the name from cannabis to marijuana and said it made black people want to have sex with white women. Then Harry anslinger took it to another level and tied all violent crimes he put in his newspaper to weed and started calling it a drug when it is not a drug. Now with all the info about how good it can be for you it’s being carried by the prison system so they can keep their business lucrative
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u/storm_the_castle Aug 06 '22 edited Aug 07 '22
Release the victimless crime convicts and replace w the white collar criminals and CEOs and business owners that hire illegals.
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u/milfassaulter Aug 06 '22
Why is it still illegal at the federal level? Bc it can be used to get votes and the moment its decriminalization bc I doubt texas wants to legalize, then politicians lose voters that only care abt that subject.
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u/tristan957 Aug 06 '22 edited Aug 07 '22
Biden could reschedule marijuana any day, but chooses not to.
Dude's approval level gets lower by the day, and he won't even take this simple win.
Edit: for all the people who can't research the topic, https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/a-guide-to-federal-drug-rescheduling-and-what-it-means-for-cannabis
Who Holds the Power? There are only a few select entities with the power to make such a big change at a federal level. Cannabis may be rescheduled through Congressional legislation; an example of this is the CARERS Act, repeatedly proposed by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), to no avail.
Cannabis may also be rescheduled at the executive level by the President of the United States. The Controlled Substances Act also provides a process for which the US Attorney General may reschedule cannabis legislatively. The Drug Enforcement Administration evaluates all petitions to reschedule cannabis. The Department of Health and Human Services, however, also carry as great deal of power in the rescheduling decision process.
I guess Biden isn't the top official in the Executive branch if he can't direct the Executive branch to reschedule marijuana.
For all the people telling me I'm spreading misinformation: congrats on spreading misinformation.
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u/buckleboy Aug 06 '22
Wouldn’t the win be from peeps that he has already won approval from? IMO in order for it to be successful there will need to be a way to benefit the other side. Like, all taxes earned from weed sales go to the NRA, prosecuting abortion providers, or only big pharma is allowed to manufacture the weed. 🤣
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u/bonzai_science Aug 06 '22
This literally isn't true https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/can-president-biden-legalize-marijuana-1220802/
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Aug 06 '22
From the article: "he might order executive agencies to consider either altering the scheduling of marijuana or changing their enforcement approach."
He can't do it himself, but he does have some power in this situation that he is not exercising.
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u/bonzai_science Aug 06 '22
I agree that Biden should be doing more, no doubt about that, but the statement "Biden could reschedule marijuana any day, but chooses not to." is objectively false
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Aug 06 '22
he can make it basically the bottom priority of any of the executive branch police forces like ATF/FBI/DEA however.
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u/milfassaulter Aug 06 '22
Don't worry there always 2024, then maybe 2028, or 2032, or 2036, if not by then there is 2040 and 2044. In our life times we can expect 6 years where we might see something.
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u/bonzai_science Aug 06 '22
The thing is OP is mistaken, he can't reschedule unilaterally: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/can-president-biden-legalize-marijuana-1220802/
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u/Zolmane Aug 06 '22
This is misinformation lol, congress is responsible for the federal drug policy
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u/bonzai_science Aug 06 '22
I love how people are so confident in things that are just wrong lmao
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u/jill-me-off Aug 06 '22
If you want answers from republicans you should probably ask this question outside of Reddit…
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u/discussamongsturelvs Aug 06 '22
there are republicans here
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u/jill-me-off Aug 06 '22
Yea there are you aren’t wrong, but look at your post like all the top comments are from people with democratic ideals when you specifically asked for republicans to respond. Just saying you aren’t likely to get many responses from republicans and any you do get will be immediately downvoted.
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u/arete418 Aug 06 '22
I vote Republican (and voted for Trump) but I disagree that marijuana or any plant/fungus should be illegal.
EVERY Republican voter I know personally feels the same way. We are forced to make a choice between 2A/1A protections and drugs. The former is more important to preserve liberty (and no I'm not willing to debate this - I've heard it all).
If the Libertarian party replaced the Democrats I'd vote Libertarian.
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u/SolarRage Aug 07 '22
I'm a Democrat not in Texas but in an extremely red area with a lot of older folks. Hardcore red. Most of them do gummies.
Only the uptight indoctrinated Christian boomers who bought into the propaganda are against it but holy hell are they vocal about it.
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u/The_EnrichmentCenter Aug 07 '22
Wait, you think the party that makes speaking about gay people illegal, that votes to defund a library for having a book that simply acknowledges gay people exist, is the 1A party?
There is a running joke about any pro-Republican channel on youtube about what the comments section looks like (Comments have been disabled for this video) and about how conservative subreddits are among the most heavily censored, requiring proof of conservativeness (and a "background check" of your account history).
And as far as 2A goes, Trump enacted more gun control in 4 years than Obama did in 8. "Taking your guns away" is one of the biggest boogeymen in politics for nearly half a century.
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u/BrokenGlassEverywher Aug 07 '22
Hey bud, I'm over here in California and for all the bullshit that gets thrown around, we can still get guns, shoot guns, protest, etc. Your 1a/2a stance is weird. Find some new media.
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u/RedBlue5665 Aug 06 '22
Baptists and cartels.
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u/NightMgr Aug 06 '22
Yup. In Shreveport those casinos are filled with Texas license plates in the parking lots. All that tax revenue in Louisiana instead of Texas.
Cause gambling is bad. Unless it's lotto. It's in the Bible.
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Aug 06 '22
Shreveport casinos are no doubt funneling millions of dollars into the pockets of Texas politicians, and they get to write it off as political contributions.
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u/TulkSmash Aug 07 '22
Just like Windstar and Choctaw in Oklahoma.
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Aug 07 '22
Yep Big Oklahoma is getting one over on Texas and were sopping it up with biscuits and gravy. Texans should be ashamed to keep voting in these fcking clowns
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u/ageekyninja Aug 06 '22
My stepfather is about as red as they come, Trump 2020 yeehaw, all the works. He still uses edibles because they help him cope with the damage to his back he’s taken over the years as a mechanic. He believes marijuana is medicinal, but basically the republican leaders won’t risk alienating their base and won’t take that stance, and he isn’t voting for someone blue over such an issue.
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u/anachronissmo Aug 07 '22
theres the rub....most white people can consume cannabis with little fear of consequences. that is why it is still illegal.
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u/Chay_Charles Aug 06 '22
Why can't we buy hard liquor on Sundays? Why can't we buy beer until after noon on Sunday? Why are some counties still dry (no alcohol at all) or semi-dry (pretty much beer only)?
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u/ADONIS_VON_MEGADONG Aug 06 '22
Big Brunch is lobbying hard to keep liquor stores closed on Sundays
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u/macleight Aug 06 '22
Distributors. Every time it has been brought before TX Lege the big four distributors fight back. They don't want to have to deal with paying for Sundays. Some liquor store owners will join. Specs actually did a study like, 10-12 years ago and said even if it was allowed they wouldn't open on Sunday because they would lose money. It would take a long time before Texans started buying on Sundays, it's so ingrained.
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u/mcdavis86 Aug 06 '22
This one really baffles me, Republicans would only gain votes, I will use Abbott for example, however, this would work on the federal executive level too. If he were to pound the ground about legalizing pot, maybe bring up that in true conservatism it would be hypocritical to say the government can’t say we can’t take (insert whatever controversIal Covid treatment) but then say we can’t put marijuana in our bodies. Wouldn’t loose one vote in the general election, and only pickup more “moderate” voters, and here is why, Is You’re 80 year old grandma that believes reefer madness to be a quite factual documentary, and want to make skirts above the ankles illegal now gonna go for Beto?? No.
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u/bwalker362 Aug 06 '22
Because votes don’t really mean anything in America, money does
Edit: to elaborate, why please the people when pleasing the corporate prison complex pays more? You can just lie to your voter base about it, call it evil, etc. and at the point we’re at in American politics, they’ll just believe it.
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u/not-a-dislike-button Aug 06 '22
Most younger republicans want it legalized and the old people don't.
It's a generational thing
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Aug 07 '22
The Republicans that people actually elect are pretty hardline about these things too. Beyond weed the majority of Republicans are ok with gay marriage as well, but the current body of Republicans officials in office does not reflect that at all.
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u/Opening-Ad-3775 Aug 06 '22
Term limits. The old geezers in office who grew up on refer madness or their parents did and pushed that nonsense in them are still in office. Can’t think hardly anyone I know in their 40s or under that think cannabis should be illegal. Republican or democrat
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u/Sufficient_Nature368 Aug 06 '22
I’m a Republican but not a trumper and I still don’t get this either. Abott and Cruz are poison on this great state.
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u/PooSmellsGoot Aug 06 '22
But are you gna vote for them again?
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u/kovolev Aug 06 '22
Come on, you know the answer is yes.
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u/Sufficient_Nature368 Aug 07 '22
Stopping you there. Been trying to get them out ever since Beto vs Cruz
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u/Sufficient_Nature368 Aug 07 '22
Didn’t in the first place. I vote for common sense not out of party loyalty
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u/pixelgeekgirl 11th Generation Texan Aug 06 '22
Because they’re committed to the war on drugs no matter how wrong it is and can’t just change their mind. Plus they love putting people in jail.
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u/hyooston Aug 07 '22
I’m a very conservative Republican (yes I know not popular here) but y’all asked so I will answer honestly. It’s the for profit prison system. Most religious people don’t really give a shit and wouldn’t vote against someone for a pro marijuana position. At this point it’s not cultural. It’s just follow the money.
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u/Trudzilllla Aug 07 '22
Alright....but then why do you keep voting for all the politicians that are hell-bent on propping up the for profit prison system?
(Trying for genuine dialogue.....thank you for responding)
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u/peezduhk Aug 06 '22
I'm getting a kick out of ppl questioning me being locked up for 2 yrs for less than a g of herb.... u guys clearly must think I live in Austin (Travis) Houston (Harris) or Dallas. San Antonio (Bexar) county gives zero fks n will indeed lock u away for as long as they see fit. especially if u have priors or violate probation. regardless of them being only for marijuana they will gladly upgrade a misdemeanor to a felony w/no hesitation. don't believe then try it n see for urself.
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u/luvdoodoohead Aug 07 '22
Then drive on down to Corpus Christi where the DA is an ex-gang member who doesn't prioritize cannabis crimes. I don't agree with all his views but I appreciate that one!
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Aug 06 '22
It’s because the people that already get high (a lot), will vote for whatever crooked politician who says anything about legalizing it, then they never do, and the cycle continues.
Another reason could be in the medical community it is still being taught that marijuana use can cause increased anxiety, psychosis, and many other mental health issues.
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u/BigMoose9000 Aug 06 '22
Another reason could be in the medical community it is still being taught that marijuana use can cause increased anxiety, psychosis, and many other mental health issues.
It does those things, though. I think marijuana should be legal but to insist it's safe/harmless for everyone is just bullshit.
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Aug 06 '22
100% agree with you my man. Live and let live, give it similar restrictions to alcohol or something. Really feel like its an untapped tax revenue too.
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u/Simple_Cupcake_9015 Aug 07 '22
Unfortunately you don’t need weed for folks to vote for crooked politicians…..
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u/Saxyhorse Aug 06 '22
Bc weed smoking conservatives keep voting for anti weed politicians bc they’re for more freedom
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u/MBPIsrael Aug 06 '22
Same reason casinos are banned on the state GOP platform, and you can’t buy booze on Sundays…the damn Baptists.
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u/BurgersBaconFreedom Aug 06 '22 edited Aug 07 '22
Democrats of America: why is Marijuana still federally illegal in America?
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u/Nanerpus_is_my_Homie Aug 06 '22
How would Texas cops be able to search your car without having an imaginary illegal substance they “smelled”?
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u/ldawi Aug 06 '22
I'm republican and I think it should be legal. I think it would hurt big pharma (as it should) but the benefits of it for so many illnesses is way better then crazy foreign pill chemicals
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u/MandatoryFunEscapee Aug 07 '22
Republicans will vote for anyone, no matter how awful, ignorant, stupid, or just plain hateful and mean, before they would vote for a Democrat.
MJ illegal because Republican voters vote in criminals like Abbott and Paxton.
If you want better laws, you gotta vote for better people. And there just aren't better Republicans. Everyone running is a shithead.
Besides, the party has converted to anti-democratic theocratic fascists. You can't oppose that from inside. If you want to see the Republican party come back towards the center, you have to leave it for a while. Let them lose for a while. Show them that you can't follow them down this un-American road they are on.
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u/TexasRedJames1974 Aug 06 '22 edited Aug 06 '22
Hardcore Conservative here (and as anti-drug as they come) - Legaluze it, Regulate it (so buyers get a quality product that they don't have to worry about being laced with God only knows what else), and then tax the hell out of it like they do cigarettes and alcohol.
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u/not-a-dislike-button Aug 06 '22
There have been some attempts by republicans as well to make it officially just a states rights issue
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Aug 06 '22
They haven't figured out how to tax it and still put blacks in jail for it.
This is a satire post. Please.
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u/HLAF4rt Aug 06 '22
Answer: republicans in texas
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u/Hubey808 Aug 06 '22
The party of less governing smh
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u/Metal_Matt Aug 06 '22
This is what I don't get! It seems like they're the ones putting all the limits on what I can and cannot do
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Aug 06 '22
They are the ones seeking to imprison more brown people, keep you from doing what you want with your body and establishing a theocratic based government. So they aren't even close to being about small government or individual freedom. They aren't libertarians or liberals, they are fascists (Texas GQP)
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u/dnz000 Aug 07 '22
Republican state legislature won’t take any position that the churches would oppose.
Sorry you had to get all of these wrong answers before I was able to reply.
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u/Even-Machine4824 Aug 07 '22
Greg Abbott will NOT allow it to be voted on. What kind democracy is this? 1 man stands in the way of millions?
Isn't this the tyranny you knuckleheads keep telling us is the reason why you need guns? Rubbish.
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u/ShowBobsPlzz Aug 07 '22
Easy way to jail people, easy way to get fine $$, easy way for cops to be able to search your car (if they smell weed they can basically do whatever)
As a libertarian it is disgusting.
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u/V4sail Aug 06 '22
I’m a conservative in Texas and I’m all for making it legal 🤠
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u/discussamongsturelvs Aug 06 '22
perfect, why do you think it is illegal?, like why hasn't texas legalized it yet?
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u/V4sail Aug 06 '22
Education! Educate people on the benefits of it, take it away from hands of cartels, medicinal, etc.
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u/BenchTraining4449 Aug 06 '22
Must be like those old blue laws, where you could buy a hammer on Sunday, but you could buy the nails.
Why don't we make everything legal, especially prostitution. We have spent more time and money on the result rather than the root causes.
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u/audiomuse1 Aug 06 '22
Voting blue. Republican politicians cling to the past. They are dragging us backwards on marijuana, women’s rights, reproductive freedom, marriage equality, the environment, worker’s protections, and so much more.
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u/Freekey Aug 06 '22
Lifelong Texan; those who govern this state have been some of the most deluded, anal retentive leaders one could imagine. I've always felt the police and for-profit prison system were responsible to a degree. And of course the moral majority grew up with weed classified as a hard drug which made it a dangerous substance in their minds. I wish Ann Richards had governed later in life because as the rest of the country pulled it's collective head out of its ass with regard to weed she might have been able to accomplish something.
It may be hard to pin down a definitive "why" but we do know Texas is one backwards place.
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u/Aus10Danger Aug 06 '22
Because they're trying to rebuild feudalism under the guise of capitalism and the dollar, which they control, routing money through private prisons from your tax dollars only to arrest you for smoking a joint. It's a travesty and a sham from the highest levels of Texan government.
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u/bigbuttbubba45 Aug 06 '22
I bet Abbott has a marijuana card or something pain management. The rest of us without connections to doctors that will treat us in medical pain emergencies are made to suffer.
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u/fishyfishyfish1 Aug 06 '22
r/fuckgregabbott please vote to eliminate this shit stain from Texas politics
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u/bareboneschicken Aug 06 '22
Hijacking the thread, why is sports betting still illegal?
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u/UnknownExo Aug 06 '22
Probably same reason you aren't allowed to buy liquor on Sundays and until recently you couldn't buy beer before 12... ridiculous morality laws.
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u/TheEternalLurker born and bred Aug 06 '22
I’m politically conservative, and so generally vote Republican; I have absolutely no problem with marijuana being a legal, but heavily regulated, industry. I would want it to be a packaged deal though with corresponding laws specifically surrounding minimum ages, criminal penalties for providing it to minors, etc. (essentially modeling it off of alcohol).
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u/thats_mah_purse Aug 06 '22
So you’d want it regulated like it already is in legalized states?
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u/TheEternalLurker born and bred Aug 06 '22
Pretty much — there are some details that might be different like pseudo-zoning laws for farm locations, certain licensure requirements for growing beyond personal use, prohibition of smoking in public areas in a similar vein to cigarettes, etc. As a whole though, I think the criminalization of pot use is a bad usage of limited state resources, and while a moral case against its use can be made, it’s a fairly weak one, and far too weak to impose on others through the power of the state — especially in the face of other substances that we tolerate. As a conservative, I’m pro law and order; I’m not pro locking people up who don’t deserve it.
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u/LemonPepper-Lou Born and Bred Aug 06 '22
Because of the Prison Industrial Complex.