Experts in the News

As the new Texas legislative session approaches, some lawmakers are pushing to expand access to medical marijuana. “I think there’s going to be a lot of focus in expanding the qualifying conditions, to include things like PTSD and chronic pain,” said Katharine Neill Harris, the Alfred C. Glassell, III, Fellow in Drug Policy.

Early evidence shows that thousands crossed the U.S.-Mexico border for the holidays. The lack of tougher COVID-19 travel restrictions, warned Tony Payan, the director of the Center for the U.S. and Mexico, will "create a very serious problem in January."

Fellow in urban politics Bob Stein discussed the storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters and its repercussions.

Health policy fellow Peter Hotez discussed vaccine skepticism, the politicization of vaccines and how the government can effectively convey public health information.

Want to know about developments that affected the environment, economy and future of the Texas coast this year? Check out the 2020 Holiday Coastal Update by Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar Jim Blackburn, co-director of the SSPEED Center.