"The load being placed upon emergency services, hospitals, and child welfare agencies as a result of this crisis has been catastrophic to these communities and Texas as a whole. 

 

With the CDC measuring opioid death rate in only 9 out of 254 total counties, Texas has been incorrectly led to believe that the state does not have an opioid problem, but the professionals providing emergency response, child welfare, and healthcare services to many Texas communities believe otherwise. While the solution to the opioid crisis is elusive, Medical Marijuana programs have been shown to reduce significantly the overall effects of opioid abuse and death in other states.

 

The veteran population of Texas is growing and is projected to grow into the largest such population in the U.S. by 2027.14 Veterans are statistically more likely to abuse opioids and to be adversely affected by PTSD and suicide.15 16 17 In addition to reducing opioid abuse among the general population, an effective Medical Marijuana program would provide Texas’ veteran population with healthcare solutions and treatments for their conditions not possible given the laws currently prohibiting such a program.

 

In addition to the strains and burdens upon the people, facilities, and governmental institutions of Texas, Medicare Part D spending continues to rise, in part due to opioid abuse. During 2013, seventeen states and the District of Columbia realized a savings of $165.2M in Medicare Part D spending because they had an effective Medical Marijuana program in place.19 With a similar Medical Marijuana program, Texas can also experience similar savings. 

 

Finally, people nationwide are seeing the benefits of Medical Marijuana with voter approval at an all-time high. A recent study shows 83% of Texans approve Medical Marijuana .20 Further, the approval rating among Republicans has grown to 51% with party leaders like former Republican Speaker of the House, John Boehner, saying they have had their “thinking on cannabis evolve” over the past several years. 

 

Texas has a golden opportunity to save lives, cut costs, and enrich the lives of its citizens. The time for an effective Medical Marijuana program in Texas has come. Please contact Elizabeth Nichols of the Rosebud Group to find out more about how you can effectively support local, district, and statewide efforts to legalize Medical Marijuana in Texas."