Texas Guide
Upcoming Election
We don't have any information for an upcoming election in your state. Check back soon for more info!
Your Elected Officials
Governor
D+
Greg Abbott
(R)
Governor Abbott signed the Compassionate Use Act in 2015, but with high dispensary application fees (still at half a million annually) through DPS the program is too restrictive and expensive for the epileptic children and adults it was intended for. In his debate with Lupe Valdez the Governor suggested he is open to depenalizing marijuana charges under two ounces to a class C misdemeanor during the 2019 legislative session.
Lieutenant Governor
D-
Dan Patrick
(R)
Attorney General
F
Ken Paxton
(R)
U.S. Senate
F
Ted Cruz
(R)
U.S. Senate
F
John Cornyn
(R)
While there is already a plethora of research on the medical beenfits of cannnabis, Senator Cornyn believes that more research should still be done on cannabis before it could be legalized.
U.S. House District 1
D-
Nathaniel Moran
(R)
U.S. House District 2
C
Dan Crenshaw
(R)
U.S. House District 3
U.S. House District 4
F
Pat Fallon
(R)
Senator Fallon has been backed by Lietenant Governor Patrick and doners that are not in favor of marijuana legalization.
U.S. House District 5
F
Lance Gooden
(R)
Even though recent polling shows a majority of Republican voters want marijuana legalized Lance Gooden does not believe his constituents want legalization of marijuana.
http://www.athensreview.com/news/county-law-enforcement-oppose-cite-and-release-policy-on-marijuana/article_0749f81a-b459-11e7-8d85-bff1853d818b.html
U.S. House District 6
F
Jake Ellzey
(R)
U.S. House District 7
B-
Lizzie Fletcher
(D)
According to the Los Angeles Times; During Mrs. Fletcher’s special elections debate she said “more study was needed” to support marijuana legalization.
https://www.google.com/amp/www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-midterm-democrats-texas-20180521-story.html%3foutputType=amp
U.S. House District 8
U.S. House District 9
A
Al Green
(D)
Rep. Al Green has been very supportive of marijuana reform bills in the House.
U.S. House District 10
D+
Michael McCaul
(R)
Michael McCaul is a recipient of GeoGroup, one of America’s largest private prison corporations: https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000022003&cycle=2016
And a major recipient of the nation’s largest private prison, Corrections Corporation of America; https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00366468&cycle=2016
U.S. House District 11
D
August Pfluger
(R)
U.S. House District 12
U.S. House District 13
F
Ronny Jackson
(R)
U.S. House District 14
F
Randy Weber
(R)
U.S. House District 15
U.S. House District 16
A+
Veronica Escobar
(D)
"Our current war on drugs has failed. We need to develop a public health regulatory scheme that reduces harm and undermines the black market." -VoteSmart
U.S. House District 17
F
Pete Sessions
(R)
As Chair of the House Rules Committee, Pete Sessions has blocked every single marijuana or even hemp bill that has made it to his desk. Despite a majority of Republican voters in district polling for marijuana legalization or requiring it for medicinal use Pete Sessions has consistantly voted against his own constituency.
U.S. House District 19
F
Jodey Arrington
(R)
U.S. House District 20
A+
Joaquin Castro
(D)
U.S. House District 21
D-
Chip Roy
(R)
Chip Roy does not support any marijuana legalization. In an interview with Texas NORML at Chick’s Meat Market in Spring Branch, TX, Roy was cornered on state’s rights for marijuana policy. Roy said “I support the Trump administration’s stance on federalism,” but would not commit to supporting a marijuana bill that defends state’s rights to implement their own marijuana policy.
U.S. House District 22
C-
Troy Nehls
(R)
U.S. House District 23
C-
Tony Gonzales
(R)
U.S. House District 24
C-
Beth Van Duyne
(R)
U.S. House District 25
F
Roger Williams
(R)
U.S. House District 26
U.S. House District 27
D-
Michael Cloud
(R)
"Legalization of marijuana is a state issue, and I would not vote to dictate drug policy to states at the federal level." -VoteSmart
U.S. House District 28
C-
Henry Cuellar
(D)
Henry Cuellar is a major recipient of GeoGroup, one of America’s largest private prison corporations. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000022003&cycle=2016
Cuellar is also a major recipient of our nation’s largest private prison, Corrections Corporation of America; https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00366468&cycle=2016
In fact, according to OpenSecrets.org, Henry Cuellar is the 4th largest recipient of for-profit prisons in the United States. https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?cycle=2018&ind=G7000
Private prisons lobby against marijuana legalization to fill their quotas with more than 70,000 Texans annually for nonviolent possession of marijuana.
U.S. House District 29
B+
Sylvia Garcia
(D)
Voted "yea" on a medical marijuana bill that passed the Texas senate in 2015.
U.S. House District 30
A+
Jasmine Crockett
(D)
U.S. House District 31
D
John Carter
(R)
John Carter is a recipient of GeoGroup, one of America’s largest private prison corporations: https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000022003&cycle=2016
According to OpenSecrets.org, John Carter is the third-largest recipient of private prison contributions in the United States: https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?cycle=2018&ind=G7000
These private prisons lobby against marijuana legalization to keep their quotas full of more than 70,000 nonviolent Texans annually for small marijuana possessions.
U.S. House District 32
A+
Julie Johnson
(D)
In a candid phone interview with Julie Johnson’s campaign manager Sarah, this campaign is ready to go to work on marijuana reform during the 2019 legislative session. The campaign is receiving local support from individuals who need marijuana for medicine to business entrepeneurs who are “ready to invest in our district with marijuana businesses.”
Texas NORML is glad to have Julie Johnson’s full support.
U.S. House District 33
A+
Marc Veasey
(D)
Marc Veasey has voted for medical marijuana and marijuana banking protections in legalized states.
U.S. House District 34
A
Vicente Gonzalez
(D)
U.S. House District 35
A
Greg Casar
(D)
U.S. House District 36
F
Brian Babin
(R)
U.S. House District 37
A+
Lloyd Doggett
(D)
U.S. House District 38
State Senate District 1
B
Bryan Hughes
(R)
State Senate District 2
F
Bob Hall
(R)
Texas NORML spoke with staffers of Senator Hall reading out the various grade qualifications for marijuana policy. The staffer replied “No one can answer that for Mr. Hall” and hung up. The opportunity to answer is always there, but hanging up is a failing grade.
State Senate District 3
B+
Robert Nichols
(R)
In 2015, State Senator Nichols voted Yes on SB339 to legally regulate medical marijuana in the state of Texas.
State Senate District 4
State Senate District 5
A
Charles Schwertner
(R)
In 2015 State Senator Charles Shwertner voted Yes on SB339 the Compassionate Use Act in Texas.
But when a more comprehensive bill to legalize medical marijuana reached the committee he Chairs for Health and Human Services he let SB269 languish in 2017.
TXCann shows that despite Schwertner being a doctor his doners aren’t that friendly to legalization:
http://txcann.com/donors-questioned-medical-marijuana-failure-texas/
State Senate District 6
A+
Carol Alvarado
(D)
Carol Alvarado has an excellent voting record in the state House for marijuana reform
State Senate District 7
B+
Paul Bettencourt
(R)
While State Senator Bettencourt supported SB339 to legalize medical marijuana in the State of Texas with a yes vote, he was not supportive of Houston DA Kim Og’s successful efforts to decriminalize marijuana in Harris County. NORML’s position is we can’t legalize mmj if we keep throwing patients in jail.
State Senate District 8
F
Angela Paxton
(R)
DallasMN: “What is your position on proposals to (a) legalize medicinal use of marijuana and (b) reclassify possession of small amounts of pot as a fine-only offense? Does this language need to be updated?”
Angela Paxton: “I am opposed to the legalization and decriminalization of drugs.“
https://voterguide.dallasnews.com/2018-primary/candidates/75/
State Senate District 9
D-
Kelly Hancock
(R)
Senator Hancock voted against SB339 to legalize medical marijuana in the state of Texas.
State Senate District 10
State Senate District 11
State Senate District 12
C+
Tan Parker
(R)
Voted yes compassionate use act
State Senate District 13
State Senate District 14
B+
Sarah Eckhardt
(D)
State Senate District 15
State Senate District 16
B+
Nathan Johnson
(D)
(From an interview with the Dallas Morning News):
What is your position on proposals to (a) legalize medicinal use of marijuana and (b) reclassify possession of small amounts of pot as a fine-only offense? Does this language need to be updated?
“I favor both proposals. They will alleviate suffering, decrease expense in medicine and in criminal justice, increase productivity (by, among other things, allowing small-time users to be gainfully employed), and promote family cohesion.“
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
During the primaries Nathan had this to say to Texas NORML:
“Regarding the legalized and regulated use of marijuana (Question
3), I think Texas needs more time and more data before asking the public to decide the matter. Other states are currently serving as laboratories. Data from their experiences will affect attitudes here, and will help the discussion proceed on a more informed, less conjectural basis. De-criminalization, meanwhile, is urgent, benevolent, and beneficial to the state.”
State Senate District 17
D-
Joan Huffman
(R)
Senator Huffman said DA Kim Og’s decriminalization of marijuana in Harris County was “bad for Texas families.”
https://www.texastribune.org/2017/02/16/texas-lawmakers-disagree-houston-moves-decriminalize-marijuana/
State Senate District 18
B
Lois Kolkhorst
(R)
State Senate District 19
A+
Roland Gutierrez
(D)
According to his campaign website, Gutierrez strongly supports legalizing marijuana for adult use and expunging previous marijuana convictions.
State Senate District 20
A
Juan Hinojosa
(D)
State Senate District 21
State Senate District 22
F
Brian Birdwell
(R)
State Senate District 23
A+
Royce West
(D)
Texas State Senator West is an outspoken supporter of marijuana legalization:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Weed-Laws-5p-072718_Dallas-Fort-Worth-489379041.html%3famp=y
State Senate District 24
State Senate District 25
D-
Donna Campbell
(R)
Senator Cambell, although she is a physician, has been a vocal opponent of even medical marijuana, stating she “needs more than anecdotal evidence that cannabis works”
http://txcann.com/texas-senator-medical-marijuana-anecdotal-evidence/
State Senate District 26
A+
José Menéndez
(D)
State Senate District 27
State Senate District 28
B+
Charles Perry
(R)
State Senate District 29
State Senate District 30
State Senate District 31
State House District 1
B
Gary VanDeaver
(R)
State House District 2
State House District 3
F
Cecil Bell
(R)
Rep. Cecil Bell is a drug warrior, believing that increased law enforcement is the solution to decreased marijuana consumption.
https://house.texas.gov/news/press-releases/?id=4994
He voted against the Compassionate Use Act for severely epileptic patients.
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
State House District 4
State House District 5
F
Cole Hefner
(R)
Cole Hefner voted against HB81 to decriminalize marijuana in the state of Texas.
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
State House District 6
State House District 7
State House District 8
State House District 9
F
Trent Ashby
(R)
Voted no to the Compassionate Use Act.
State House District 10
State House District 11
State House District 12
State House District 13
State House District 14
State House District 15
B-
Steve Toth
(R)
Back in 2013 Steve Toth voted Yes on HB184 out of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee to depenalize less than 1 oz. of marijuana: http://txcann.com/texas-cannabis-bills-fail-to-make-the-floor-but-see-progress/
State House District 16
F
Will Metcalf
(R)
Will Metcalf did not even vote yes on SB339 the Compassionate Use Act to provide epileptic Texans low THC cannabis.
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Texas-Marijuana-Policy-State-Legislator-Voting-Records-2015-and-2017-Updated-December-2017.pdf
State House District 17
State House District 18
State House District 19
State House District 20
C+
Terry Wilson
(R)
Terry Wilson co-authored HB81 to depenalize marijuana in the state of Texas.
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Texas-Marijuana-Policy-State-Legislator-Voting-Records-2015-and-2017-Updated-December-2017.pdf
State House District 21
B
Dade Phelan
(R)
State House District 22
State House District 23
State House District 24
F
Greg Bonnen
(R)
Bonnen didn’t even vote yes on the Compassionate Use Act currently enacted for low THC whole plant cannabis for severely epileptic Texans. And he’s a medical professor.
State House District 25
State House District 26
State House District 27
State House District 28
State House District 29
State House District 30
State House District 31
State House District 32
State House District 33
State House District 34
State House District 35
State House District 36
State House District 37
State House District 38
State House District 39
State House District 40
State House District 41
B+
Bobby Guerra
(D)
Coauthored HB2107 to legalize medical marijuana and cosponsored the Compassionate Use Act.
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
State House District 42
C+
Richard Raymond
(D)
Cosponsored the Compassionate Use Act
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
State House District 43
B
J.M. Lozano
(R)
State House District 44
State House District 45
A+
Erin Zwiener
(D)
During her recent debate at the Blanco Library Erin Zweiner reaffirmed her position on legalizing and regulating marijuana.
During the primaries she said, “ Iwill support all of the above policies, but my end goal is full
legalization of marijuana. There is not adequate social or medical risk to justify it remaining illegal.”
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
State House District 46
A+
Sheryl Cole
(D)
Her response to Texas NORML during the primaries:
“For far too long, communities that are primarily low-income
people of color have been jailed and disenfranchised due to regressive marijuana policy - a description that disproportionately describes my district, HD 46, compared to the rest of the state. I applaud the local efforts in Travis County (and elsewhere) to make sure we aren’t ruining the lives of individuals for possessing marijuana, but we can do better at a state and federal level. While I do not believe that the legalization marijuana will solve all of our criminal justice issues, it is certainly progress and a necessary step. The additional tax revenue that can go towards our ailing education, healthcare, and transportation systems is also very welcomed.”
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
State House District 47
A
Vikki Goodwin
(D)
Ms. Vikki Goodwin expressed support for marijuana legalization to Texas NORML during the primaries.
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
State House District 48
A
Donna Howard
(D)
State House District 49
B+
Gina Hinojosa
(D)
Coauthored HB2107 to legalize medical marijuana and HB81 to decriminalize.
State House District 50
A+
James Talarico
(D)
From his website:
“We must reform our criminal justice system by legalizing marijuana, reforming bail bonds, divesting from privately-owned prisons, and promoting community policing initiatives to build trust between police officers and the neighborhoods they serve.“
State House District 51
State House District 52
State House District 53
State House District 54
State House District 55
State House District 56
State House District 57
State House District 58
State House District 59
State House District 60
State House District 61
State House District 62
State House District 63
State House District 64
State House District 65
State House District 66
F
Matt Shaheen
(R)
Voted no on the CUA for severely epileptic patients.
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Texas-Marijuana-Policy-State-Legislator-Voting-Records-2015-and-2017-Updated-December-2017.pdf
State House District 67
F
Jeff Leach
(R)
State House District 68
State House District 69
State House District 70
State House District 71
C+
Stan Lambert
(R)
Lambert coauthored HB2107 to legalize medical marijuana.
State House District 72
State House District 73
State House District 74
State House District 75
State House District 76
State House District 77
State House District 78
A
Joe Moody
(D)
Representative Joe Moody will very likely author the bill that decriminalizes marijuana early next year in Texas.
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
As chair of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee he is drafting legislation to hold Governor Abbott to his word about decriminalizing marijuana during the upcoming January 2019 legislative session.
https://www.texastribune.org/2018/10/11/texas-joe-moody-criminal-justice-legislature-marijuana/
Texas Tribune: “Will you be introducing your civil penalty bill again?”
Moody: “Yes, civil penalties will be the first bill I file this coming session.”
But because he is focused on a realistic decrim bill does not mean he won’t support full marijuana legalization:
Texas Tribune: “What impact would the legalization of marijuana have on the projected prison population?”
Moody: Legalization isn't something I've proposed — although I would probably support it — and not something I think has a chance of passing. Decriminalization in lieu of a civil penalty, however, would save us over $700 million a year. While it wouldn't impact prison populations, it would decrease local costs by freeing space in county jails.“
State House District 79
State House District 80
State House District 81
F
Brooks Landgraf
(R)
Voted no on the Compassionate Use Act
State House District 82
F
Tom Craddick
(R)
Voted no on the Compassionate Use Act
State House District 83
C
Dustin Burrows
(R)
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Texas-Marijuana-Policy-State-Legislator-Voting-Records-2015-and-2017-Updated-December-2017.pdf
State House District 84
State House District 85
State House District 86
State House District 87
State House District 88
State House District 89
State House District 90
State House District 91
State House District 92
State House District 93
State House District 94
C
Tony Tinderholt
(R)
Voted for the Compassionate Use Act
State House District 95
A-
Nicole Collier
(D)
State House District 96
State House District 97
State House District 98
State House District 99
State House District 100
State House District 101
B+
Chris Turner
(D)
Chris Turner’s voting record on marijuana reform is impeccable.
State House District 102
State House District 103
State House District 104
B+
Jessica Gonzalez
(D)
In a phone interview with Texas NORML Jessica Gonzales says she supports medical marijuana “para medicamento por la gente del estado de Tejas.”
State House District 105
A
Terry Meza
(D)
Terry Meza supports marijuana legalization.
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
State House District 106
State House District 107
State House District 108
F
Morgan Meyer
(R)
Voted no on the Compassionate Use Act
State House District 109
State House District 110
State House District 111
State House District 112
B
Angie Chen Button
(R)
Voted in favor of the Texas Compassionate Care Act, which expanded the state's medical cannabis program
State House District 113
B
Rhetta Bowers
(D)
“I support access to marijuana for medicinal purposes and believe
that this would keep residents from having to move/travel to other states to receive proper treatment.”
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
State House District 114
State House District 115
State House District 116
State House District 117
B+
Philip Cortez
(D)
Phillip Cortez coauthored HB2107 to legalize medical marijuana in the state of Texas.
State House District 118
B
John Lujan
(R)
John Lujan supports legalized medical marijuana.
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
State House District 119
State House District 120
A
Barbara Gervin-Hawkins
(D)
Supported indicated by responses given to Texas NORML- https://www.texasnorml.org/voters-guide/?fbclid=IwAR2454vVxGJaO57wXT6tBIunQpSlnMkVAtKL2R3r4Zs4HWTv8Og00v9Nbzw
State House District 121
State House District 122
State House District 123
State House District 124
State House District 125
State House District 126
State House District 127
State House District 128
F
Briscoe Cain
(R)
State House District 129
F
Dennis Paul
(R)
Voted no on Compassionate Use Act
State House District 130
State House District 131
A
Alma Allen
(D)
Alma Allen has been in avid supporter of marijuana reform in the state House.
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Texas-Marijuana-Policy-State-Legislator-Voting-Records-2015-and-2017-Updated-December-2017.pdf
State House District 132
State House District 133
State House District 134
State House District 135
A+
Jon Rosenthal
(D)
Jon Rosenthal’s support for criminal justice reform and eliminating the private prison lobby says it all. But in an interview with Texas NORML, here is what he has to say;
“I also support releasing non-violent offenders serving time in prison, particularly those who are ONLY convicted of possession of quantities for personal use.“
“ I personally believe that marijuana should be decriminalized, regulated, and taxed in much the same way we address alcohol and tobacco. I would also push for using the revenue from the taxes primarily for public education.“
Agrees with expungement of criminal histories for minor possessions.
State House District 136
B
John Bucy
(D)
“While I favor allowing the use of medical marijuana and
decriminalization for small amounts of marijuana I would like more information around the legalization debate. I am eager to learn more and have an open dialogue.”
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Voter-Guide-v.FINAL-2.20.18.pdf
State House District 137
B+
Gene Wu
(D)
Gene Wu has an excellent voting record for marijuana reform in the state house:
https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Texas-Marijuana-Policy-State-Legislator-Voting-Records-2015-and-2017-Updated-December-2017.pdf
State House District 138
State House District 139
State House District 140
State House District 141
State House District 142
State House District 143
State House District 144
State House District 145
State House District 146
State House District 147
State House District 148
State House District 149
B-
Hubert Vo
(D)
Voted no on the CUA but coauthored HB2107 for medical marijuana
State House District 150
D-
Valoree Swanson
(R)
When Valorie Swanson is never available for a vote or comment on marijuana policy, her silence speaks volumes. https://www.texasnorml.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Texas-Marijuana-Policy-State-Legislator-Voting-Records-2015-and-2017-Updated-December-2017.pdf