King Delivers Testimony Favoring Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill

After a marathon 13.5-hour public hearing, state Representative Ken King (R) delivered a heartfelt closing statement in support of House Bill 46 (HB46), a measure he authored to expand the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP).

The bill, which was heard before the House Public Health Committee, would broaden access to medical cannabis for Texans suffering from a wider range of qualifying conditions. Under current Texas law, TCUP allows limited use of low-THC cannabis products for a narrow list of medical conditions. HB46 seeks to significantly expand that list, which reflects a growing push for more inclusive cannabis policy in Texas.

Earlier this year, the state lawmaker pushed back against Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's (R) effort to ban THC. With House Bill 28, there would be tighter regulations on the hemp industry without implementing an outright ban.

Despite this effort to block the ban of THC, state Rep. King has previously shared his skepticism about cannabis, which makes his comments during the hearing all the more impactful.

“I’ma tell ya right now,” state Rep. King said during his closing remarks. “Y’all’ve heard me over the years talk a lot about my mother, and I watched her die over 10 and a half weeks in hospice, and if I had it to do it over again, instead of giving her the poison they were shoving down her, I woulda gone to Colorado and bought a joint.”

The deeply personal statement drew attention from advocates and lawmakers alike, highlighting the human cost behind restrictive medical cannabis laws. The Texas Republican’s shift in perspective shows the increasing bipartisan support for medical marijuana in Texas, particularly among those who have witnessed the suffering of loved ones firsthand.

Texas Cannabis Collective, a prominent Cannabis advocacy group, shared King’s remarks on social media.