Texas just elected three prominent Democrats who support significant THC policy reform. Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott for governor, James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate, and Vikki Goodwin defeated Dan Patrick for lieutenant governor. Patrick has now conceded his race.
Texas does not need federal legalization before it can establish its own regulated adult-use market. Other states have already done exactly that. What Texas needs is state legislation, while federal reform would address a different set of obstacles.
Where all three stand on THC policy
The Texas Cannabis Policy Center and Marijuana Policy Project published a 2026 voter guide examining candidates' positions on medical access, decriminalization, adult possession and regulated retail sales.
Hinojosa has supported expanding the medical program, reducing criminal penalties, and creating a regulated adult-use market.
Talarico has explicitly supported federally legal adult-use sales, with regulation and taxation to fund public health and safety.
Goodwin has supported regulated THC sales with age restrictions, laboratory testing, labeling requirements and consumer protections.
Of the three, Goodwin's election is particularly relevant to the history of legalization legislation in Texas. The Texas House passed decriminalization measures in 2019, 2021 and 2023, but they stalled in the Senate. Replacing Patrick changes the leadership involved in that process.
How can they actually make THC legal in Texas?
There are three separate paths to reform, each with a different level of legislative involvement.
Reform the existing hemp market
Texas could revise licensing fees, product restrictions, testing requirements and THC regulations. The governor's administration could pursue changes through authorized rulemaking, while legislators could amend statutes that agencies cannot change themselves.
Expand the Texas Compassionate Use Program
Legislators could authorize medical flower, additional qualifying conditions, broader dispensing access and revised product limits. Texas already expanded its medical program through HB 46 in 2025, providing an existing regulatory framework to build upon.
Establish full adult-use legalization
The Legislature could pass a law authorizing possession, cultivation, manufacturing and retail sales, with licensing, taxation, testing and enforcement requirements. It would need to pass both legislative chambers and become law through the governor.
The third option is possible under state law without waiting for Congress. Federal restrictions would still apply, as they do in other adult-use states.
Road to Wrestlemania
Next regular Texas legislative session: January 12th–May 31st, 2027. 
DSHS rulemaking and litigation: Texas already has restrictive hemp rules, including total-THC calculations, delta-8 restrictions and substantial annual licensing fees. These may face legislative or regulatory reconsideration, but existing laws and court decisions cannot simply be disregarded. 
The first concrete signal of the new administration's priorities will be its legislative agenda and agency appointments, not the candidates' campaign statements alone.
The immediate focus is the federal hemp deadline in December. The longer-term question is whether Texas lawmakers can agree on a regulatory framework during the 2027 session.
There is an important difference between voters supporting reform, elected officials supporting reform, and lawmakers actually passing reform. Texas now has stronger support in key statewide offices. The next legislative session will show how much of that support becomes law.
