Skip to main content
Home
Home

  • People
  • Events
    USMCA Flags
    Claudio X. González Center for the US and Mexico
    Thu, July 09, 2026 | 10 am - 11 am
    The State of Negotiations of the USMCA See Details
    AIHC New
    Science and Technology Policy
    Tue, Sep. 15 - Thu, Sep. 17, 2026 | 8 am - 6 pm
    AI in Health Conference See Details
    SynBio-Crop
    Science and Technology Policy
    Fri, Sep. 18, 2026 | 9 am - 5 pm
    Synthetic Biology at the Intersection of Science, Ethics, and Policy See Details
  • Podcasts
  • Research Programs
  • Research & Commentary
  • Press
  • Support
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Search
  • Research
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Newsletter
  • Economics & Finance
  • Energy
  • Foreign Policy
  • Domestic Policy
  • Health & Science
  • All Publications
Drug Policy | Press Release

Rethinking drug policy in Houston & Harris County

June 23, 2016

Table of Contents

Share this Publication

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Linkedin
  • Print This Publication

Tags

Baker InstituteDrug policy reformBeto O'RourkeLaw enforcementCriminal justiceTexas politiciansSheriff Ed Gonzalez

The November 2016 elections brought significant changes to drug policies in Houston and Harris County, particularly with regard to marijuana, and may lead to changes in other major Texas cities.

Dean Becker, a Drug Policy Program contributing expert and host of radio programs aired on more than 70 stations throughout the nation, interviewed principal figures involved in these changes, both before and after the election.

MP3 recordings and transcripts of these interviews, along with hundreds of others gathered over 15 years, are available on the Drug Truth Archive on the Drug Policy Program website. The following are of particular interest:   

  • 06/16/16: Kim Ogg (pictured above) discusses plans for reform if she is elected to be the Harris County District Attorney, which she was. http://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/page/d5bc9633/FDBCB_061016.txt 
  • 08/26/16: U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, and Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez
    http://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/files/dc104b02/FDBCB_082616.txt
  • 12/30/16: Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo
    http://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/files/5fb8ad52/FDBCB_123016.txt
  • 02/17/17: District Attorney Kim Ogg with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, and state Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, author of House Bill 81, a marijuana decriminalization bill under consideration during the 2017 session of the Texas Legislature.
    http://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/files/e642bbf7/FDBCB_021717.txt
  • Print This Publication
  • Share
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email
    • Linkedin

Related Research

Cannabis cultivation workers trimming hemp plants.
Center for Health Policy | Drug Policy | Policy Brief

How US Hemp Policy Can Balance Consumer Access and Public Health

Read More
Macro close up of droplet dosing a biological and ecological hemp
Texas Briefing | Drug Policy | Podcast

New Texas Hemp Rules and the Future of Cannabis Policy

Read More
Prescription opioid medication pills spilled onto table
Drug Policy | Press Release

Drug policy expert available to speak about fentanyl executive order

Read More
  • Contact Us
  • Donate Now
  • Press
  • Membership
  • Careers
  • Student Opportunities
  • About the Institute
  • Rice.edu

6100 Main Street
Baker Hall MS-40, Suite 120
Houston, TX 77005

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 713-348-4683
Fax: 713-348-5993

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Newsletter
  • © Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy
  • Web Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy