Texas Democratic Lt. Gov. Candidate Vikki Goodwin Launches 'Legalize It' Rally Against Hemp THC Ban

Texas Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Vikki Goodwin is holding a 'Legalize It' rally in Houston to highlight her support for marijuana reform and opposition to recent state restrictions on hemp-derived THC products. The event features musician Kam Franklin and an attorney involved in litigation against the THC crackdown, while Goodwin's campaign accuses Republican incumbent Dan Patrick of advancing prohibition to benefit alcohol industry donors.

Democratic Texas state Rep. Vikki Goodwin is using a Houston 'Legalize It' rally to draw a sharp contrast with Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on cannabis policy, according to a campaign press release. The Saturday event will feature a performance from Grammy-winning musician Kam Franklin and an update from an attorney helping lead litigation against hemp THC product restrictions recently enacted by Texas officials.

Goodwin's campaign has accused Patrick of championing legislation to recriminalize many hemp products while receiving 'pharmaceutical and alcohol industry donations.' Although a bill Patrick favored was vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott, the governor subsequently issued an executive order and regulators enacted significant restrictions on hemp derivatives, the campaign noted.

The Houston rally is expected to be the first of several cannabis-focused events in major urban areas of Texas. Goodwin is also endorsing a local Houston ballot measure that would make misdemeanor marijuana possession the 'lowest possible enforcement priority' and ban no-knock warrants, arguing that public resources should not be wasted on low-level cannabis possession.

Goodwin's campaign website states that Delta-8, Delta-10, THCA and THCP are now Schedule I drugs in Texas, the same category as heroin, and that vape pens are a felony at any amount. The campaign claims thousands of Texas hemp manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers lost their business overnight, and that consumers who relied on tested, labeled products are now buying from an unregulated market.

The campaign has also cited a poll showing a strong bipartisan majority of Texans support legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana. Goodwin has said she favors treating THC like alcohol, including taxing it to fund healthcare, and accused Patrick of pushing the ban to benefit alcohol companies that are among his substantial campaign contributors.

Texas Democrats are increasingly using cannabis policy to attack Republicans ahead of the November elections. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico has similarly accused state Attorney General Ken Paxton of supporting the THC ban to aid political donors in the alcohol and tobacco industries, while the Texas Democratic Party criticized Paxton for appearing unable to answer a question about the state's THC ban.