Texas has no recreational cannabis program, so Austin cannot create a social-equity license. The narrow Compassionate Use Program licenses three statewide dispensing organizations on competitive merit, with no equity preference for prior-conviction, minority, or low-income applicants.
Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 481 keeps marijuana a Schedule I controlled substance, and the Compassionate Use Program (CUP) under H&S Code Chapter 487, administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety, licenses only three vertically integrated dispensing organizations to serve registered patients with low-THC products. CUP applications use a competitive merit scoring with no social-equity weighting for race, prior conviction, or geography. Because state law preempts the field, Austin City Council has no home-rule authority to issue a parallel municipal cannabis license. Austin voters did adopt Proposition A in 2022 deprioritizing low-level marijuana enforcement, but the measure does not create or authorize any licensing pathway for retail cannabis sales.
Not applicable to licensing. Operating any unlicensed cannabis sales remains a felony under TX H&S Code Section 481.120, with penalties scaling from state-jail felony to first-degree felony based on quantity and concentrate involvement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Austin, TX
Austin City Code Chapter 9-2 establishes citywide quiet hours from 10:30 PM to 7:00 AM, during which sound plainly audible across a property line in resident...
Austin, TX
Austin enforces Texas Transportation Code Chapter 683 and Austin City Code Chapter 12-5: a vehicle on public right-of-way is abandoned if inoperable for more...
Austin, TX
Austin Land Development Code Chapter 25-2 Subchapter F caps residential fences at 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front yards without a permit. C...
Austin, TX
Austin City Code Chapter 3-4 requires dogs in public to be restrained on a leash no longer than 6 feet, with limited exceptions for designated off-leash area...
Austin, TX
Consumer fireworks are illegal to possess, use, or sell within Austin city limits. Violations can carry fines up to $2,000. Permits are issued only for profe...
Austin, TX
Austin imposes no general restriction on year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays on private residential property. The sign code (LDC 25-10...
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