Marijuana industry exploded in Oklahoma. Why not Texas?

If you’re a Texan who thinks marijuana is only available in liberal cities and states, the reality on your doorstep is much different. Oklahoma considers itself the reddest state in the nation. And it is now one of the largest producers of marijuana in the country, poised to lead the global industry into the future.

An Oklahoma Republican behind the bill that would expand the industry beyond medical marijuana and legalize the product (HB 3754) says his fellow Republicans should view it no differently than they view guns.

“We conservatives, for example, when we talk about gun policy, we talk about the more restrictions you put on guns, the more you hurt law-abiding citizens and criminals don’t care what kind of laws you put, or regulations you put, on firearms. Well, marijuana is not unlike that same situation,” Rep. Scott Fetgatter said on the latest episode of Y’all-itics.

In 2018, nearly 57% of Oklahoma voters approved a ballot initiative legalizing medical marijuana. And since then, the industry has exploded. By some estimates, it’s grown much larger than operations in states you may more readily associate with marijuana, such as California. But that’s also led to some big problems as the lack of regulation that allowed the growth in the first place is now struggling to keep up. [Read more at WFAA]