SAN ANTONIO – As Texas Democrats prepare to take power in January, some San Antonio business owners and city leaders say they see an opening for marijuana legalization — and they want the city to be ready for what it could mean economically and socially.
Romish Abdul Rashid, who owns 21 smoke shops, said his stores sell THC products that can get people high, but customers are looking for marijuana because it is more potent. “The hope is you know convert it from a CBD dispensary to an actual dispensary,” Abdul Rashid said. He also said he believes customers would accept taxes tied to legalization. “Even if these products would be taxed, I feel like people would support that,” he said.
District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez supports legalizing marijuana and is calling for a study to examine how legalization could affect San Antonio’s economy, including potential tax revenue and business growth. “If were able to make the case that San Antonio can benefit greatly from legalization we take that to our legislators we take that to our delegation and we make that case,” McKee-Rodriguez said.
McKee-Rodriguez also said legalization could reduce illegal sales and help prevent young people from facing consequences they would not face in states such as California. “They have a felony charge they’re not able to get financial aid to get to college they are not able to get certain employment they are not able to vote,” he said.
Opponents of legalization argue it could create public safety risks, including concerns that it could normalize the use of other illegal substances and that marketing could target youth.
District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte did not take a position for or against legalization, but said the push for a city-funded study is reactionary and comes too soon after a recent tax increase. “We have so any other things we need to be focused on in the city of San Antonio we have 20% of our streets in poor or failing condition we have public safety issues drainage problems,” Whyte said.
McKee-Rodriguez’s proposed study was signed by four other council members: Sukh Kaur, Edward Mungia, Teri Castillo and Ric Galvan. The group plans to discuss recommendations on how to form the study at the next available Governance Committee meeting.
