All but one Republican member of the Senate voted against the legalization bill.
Region: United States
The measure amends the state’s child neglect statute so that the use of cannabis by a parent or a child’s guardian is no longer considered to be prima facie evidence of a crime.
The vote marks the second time in less than a year that Harker Heights residents have decided in favor of depenalizing cannabis.
Regulators are prohibited from issuing licenses for any new medical cannabis dispensaries, processors, or commercial growers until 2026.
Tax revenues derived from licensed retail sales of adult-use cannabis products totaled approximately $3.8 billion in 2022 alone.
Since 2020, over 100,000 commercially licensed truck drivers have tested positive for past exposure to marijuana, leading to driver shortages and supply chain issues.
Thirty-five percent of Californians suffering from chronic pain say they have used cannabis for therapeutic purposes within the past year.
All but eight GOP members voted against the bill’s advancement, assuring that it would not meet the 60 vote threshold necessary to move forward under Senate rules.