Countries around the world, which had relaxed marijuana (cannabis) regulations expecting tax revenue and economic revitalization, are paying a harsh price with increased youth abuse and a surge in new crimes. As unexpected social side effects frequently occurred, they belatedly shifted towards stricter regulations.
Texas has tightened its grip on the increasingly loose regulations surrounding recreational marijuana in the United States. Fox News reported on the 22nd (local time) that the Texas Senate committee unanimously passed a bill (SB 5) that completely bans the sale of marijuana products containing the psychoactive component THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Texas Governor Greg Abbott initially proposed selling recreational marijuana like liquor, anticipating backlash from the marijuana industry. However, the legislature chose strict control with a complete ban instead of moderate regulation.
Charles Perry, the Republican senator who led the bill, said at a hearing, "Even if we spend millions of dollars training enforcement agents, we cannot keep up with the industry's pace," and noted, "If the current regulations are not working, we will regulate through a ban."
Until the early 1990s, countries around the world regarded marijuana strictly as a drug that induces hallucinations and banned it. Subsequently, medical research on cannabis was conducted. The medical community highlighted the existence of cannabidiol (CBD), a component found in cannabis that has therapeutic effects for conditions like epilepsy, dementia, and depression without stimulating the mind. While cannabis leaves and flowers also contain the psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), theories have emerged suggesting that this component may be less addictive than alcohol or tobacco.
In this context of debate, California became the first state in the United States to legalize marijuana for medical use in 1996. Over the following 30 years, a total of 38 states followed suit in legalizing medical marijuana. In 2012, Colorado and Washington first legalized marijuana for recreational use, and since then, the number of states allowing recreational use has gradually increased. Currently, nearly half of the 50 states, 24 in total, have legalized both recreational and medical use.
Among cannabis, strains with a THC dry weight of 0.3% or less are classified separately as 'hemp,' which has been legalized for cultivation under the federal Farm Bill since 2018. Federal legalization means that hemp can be grown in all 50 states.
The issue Texas raised during this legislative process is the hemp products. There is nothing wrong with hemp itself. The cannabis industry extracted psychoactive substances such as 'Delta-8 THC,' which produce effects similar to THC, from legally allowed hemp through chemical processes. In a legal gray area, youths indiscriminately purchased these products at gas stations and convenience stores. Supporters of the bill pointed out that "these products have led to public health risks, such as youth violent crime and cannabis-induced psychosis."
Other countries that had loosened restrictions on recreational marijuana are also increasingly declaring policy retreats. Thailand, which dreamed of becoming a cannabis tourism hub by fully legalizing cannabis for the first time in Asia, is a prime example. After legalizing recreational marijuana in 2022, Thailand faced side effects such as deaths from excessive marijuana use and minor abuse. The Thai government belatedly introduced regulations such as banning sales to those under 20 and banning online distribution. Recently, a mandatory doctor's prescription has effectively locked the door to the recreational cannabis market.
Germany, which had opted for a cautious approach, is also tightening its regulatory reins. Last April, Germany allowed adults to possess recreational marijuana and cultivate cannabis for personal use in the name of eradicating the cannabis black market. However, it chose a unique model that only prohibits cannabis sales. As a result, there has been a surge in online prescriptions for medical marijuana over the past year. There have been instances of medical marijuana being sold in exchange for recreational use. The German Ministry of Health recently prepared a revised bill banning online prescriptions for medical marijuana and is moving toward enhanced regulation.
The cannabis industry and patients are strongly opposing the tightening of regulations. Since the legalization in California in 1996, the cannabis industry has established itself nationwide in the United States. According to the Texas media Austin American-Statesman, the Texas cannabis industry is estimated to be worth $8 billion (approximately 11 trillion won) annually. Jobs related to manufacturing and sales amount to 53,000.
Patients in the United States suffering from anxiety disorders, trauma, and chronic pain often seek cannabis as a cheaper alternative to expensive primary care. If the legal market disappears, they are likely to be pushed into the more dangerous and unregulated underground market. There are cases where sellers mix drugs known as 'zombie drugs,' like fentanyl, for distribution. The Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) stated in a press release, "This bill will cause irreparable harm to communities across the state."
Experts have pointed out that the result is a hasty measure that has been too focused on the short-term benefits of increased tax revenue while failing to sufficiently consider the addiction and social ripple effects of cannabis. Criticism has also emerged that the enormous social costs of cannabis, drugs, and psychoactive substance addiction may fall back on diligent taxpayers and future generations.