Texas lawmakers: Cannabis is here to stay. And we will regulate the market in 2027.
by Stephen Simpson and Alejandro Serrano
Jan. 31, 2026, 5:05 p.m. Central
Cannabis is here to stay in Texas, lawmakers and industry leaders said this week, as efforts to ban consumable hemp are losing steam. However, figuring out how to regulate the market remains a glaring problem that lawmakers will likely address in 2027.
State Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, and Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, told cannabis industry leaders at the Texas Cannabis Policy Conference that the attempted ban on consumable hemp opened their eyes to how passionate Texans are about these products. Now it’s time to find a safe and responsible way to regulate businesses that sell THC instead of prohibition, they said.
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January 29-31 we hosted the Texas Cannabis Policy Conference, a professional gathering of advocates, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry experts. We dove into reform, regulation, business development, and patient protections — with a focus on what's next.
Special thanks to our media sponsor, Maverick PR! Because of their generous support, conference sessions were professionally recorded, ensuring on-demand access to these important conversations.
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Texas Cannabis Policy Center is a reliable resource for Texas cannabis news, policy overviews and recommendations, and a civic center for grassroots engagement with lawmakers. We are proud to work with a broad coalition of organizations, activists, and community leaders dedicated to bringing about effective, efficient, and evidence-based cannabis policies in Texas.