The legalization of medical marijuana in Texas partially stemmed from a series of unfortunate events that led a former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys to rally behind cannabis. Now, advocates appear to be at a loss regarding how to push progress forward.
During a panel discussion moderated by cannabis law professor Scott Seder at the Texas Cannabis Policy Conference, attorney Susan Hays reflected on what it took for the Lone Star State to create its very limited medical marijuana program.
Hays started by saying that sometimes “outside things can really influence” what happens within the Texas Legislature, such as former Dallas Cowboys player Jay Novacek’s son, Blake Novacek, having multiple seizures at the Texas Capitol in May 2019. This reportedly happened while the family was waiting to speak with lawmakers about expanding legal access to medical marijuana in Texas.
The Novaceks previously told CBS Texas that Blake was violently assaulted while pledging with a fraternity and now has permanent brain damage, causing him to have multiple seizures.
Hays added that the Novaceks were “personal friends” with a state senator whose wife saw him have the seizures.
“That’s it — something dramatic happened to someone incredibly sympathetic with the Dallas Cowboy star thrown on top,” Hays said. “Things like that can help push bills through.”
But cannabis attorney David Sergi, who represents the nine smoke shops that were recently raided in Allen, Texas, thinks the way to push progress forward is by shifting the narrative.
“We have to shift the narrative away from, ‘Hey, this is just about getting high,’ to helping veterans with PTSD (and) helping people out that need alternatives to opioids,” said Sergi, who also helped Hometown Hero with its initial case against Texas Department of State Health Services that ultimately allowed hemp-derived cannabis products to remain legal in Texas for the time being.
Sergi also reflected on who testified in court: “We didn’t put on folks that don’t face up quite as well to old, white men. But I’ll tell you what, veterans sure do speak to them.”
But Seder seems to have best summarized the challenge of pushing progress during a later panel: “It’s clear that without real federal action, the (cannabis) industry globally is going to have more difficulty.”
The 2024 Texas Cannabis Policy Conference is taking place at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, through Saturday, Sept. 14.
Moving the needle in Texas’ cannabis industry is no easy task, and cannabis lawyers and advocates are looking for ways to push things forward. Read More