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I think that it’s now safe to say that we Texans now live in a failed state.  30 years of GOP rule, setting our own standard, living the “Texas Dream,” which they’ve bragged about relentlessly…and let’s see where we are:

A majority of the state in complete failure, unable to deliver the most BASIC of services (things that are called “utilities,” not “luxuries,” for a reason).  No power.  No water.  No means of clearing roads (that one, I can’t fault the state so much….but it wouldn’t be as big a crisis if people weren’t stuck in their homes with no power and water).  So citizens are stuck in their homes, some of them dying there. 

Water resource planning?  After pretending for decades that a drought would never happen again, and not doing ANYTHING to develop resources in the state water plan (a document actually developed using science and mathematical projections), we had several locations, including actual cities, down to a few days of water supply.  We’ve finally gotten on our horse a bit, but it may be too late if the next drought comes anytime soon.  

State rank in key categories:

Education – 34

Health Care - 37

Infrastructure - 33

Opportunity - 39

Environment - 44

Infrastructure - 33 

In overall quality of life ranking by US News, we are now #38, down from #36 just two years ago.  At that rate, we’ll be in the bottom 3 within ten years.

We are SUPER independent, and FUCK the feds….but we have requested federal disaster assistance more than any other state in the past decade or so.

But hey, our economy is ranked #15!

That’s right, we have a “roaring economy” and the “Texas Miracle!”  But we can’t deliver the basics for our citizens.  The economy is VERY efficient at funneling bazillions to the very few…..with little of it “trickling down” to most Texans.  Yeah, the people on this board generally do fine, but face the facts – we’re the top 10% or so.  We are educated, older, and fortunate.

Our federal system allows for state-by-state experiments.  Texas is the poster child for near anarcho-capitalism and zero regulation or oversight.  We have tested that approach, for over a generation now (30 years of Republican rule).  That approach is a failure.  The evidence is undeniable, and overwhelming.  It doesn’t matter how many River Oaks millionaires you produce if the rest of your people are dying in their homes.  Shit, some of those River Oaks millionaires might be freezing to death today, too.

The kids of a middle class family can hardly afford to go to a good state school.  Their prospects for employment are mediocre.  Their prospects of suffering crippling medical debt at some point are significant.  Their chances of not having basic utilities needed for life safety at some point – all but certain.  Their chances of becoming ill or dying from a pollution-caused illness are material.

What’s the result?  Our leaders have sold Texas as a paradise – move here!  Bring your business here!  And some businesses have done so, adding opportunity…..but providing little to no tax support for the infrastructure we all depend on.  To the contrary, over the past few years, I know more and more people – educated people, people who can do their jobs elsewhere, who are looking to bail on this state.  It’s people with young kids, who want them to grow up in a better place.  It’s people in their working years, who simply want a better path.  It’s retirees, who want a safe and secure place to live.

We have consumed our seed stock.  We have burned through our reserves.  We are now consuming ourselves.  The ability to pitch Texas as the land of opportunity is done.  Seeing what we have become, the tentative thought/plan my wife and I had of wrapping up our careers here and then getting the hell out of Dodge is becoming much more concrete.  My children are already unlikely to make their future in this state.  Now we are, too.

But the response from the Republican leadership and their sycophants – “how are you gonna pay for it?  Taxes?  That’s socialism!  You want that stuff, you have to pay for it!”

Fuck yes I do, and I’m okay with that.  I want groceries…so I have to pay HEB.  I want a car…so I have to pay Ford.  I want clothes…..so I have to pay Dillards.  I want my population educated….so I have to pay the school district.  I want electricity, with enough capacity to keep us running when we need it…..so I have to pay my bill, maybe with a capacity surcharge.  I want water to come out of the taps….so I have to pay for development of resources and maintenance of infrastructure.  I want roads….so I pay taxes to build and maintain them.  YES, I have to pay for all of those things, and “nothing is free” – no fucking shit.  So, let’s pay for it.  We have the #15 economy….we HAVE the funds in this state.  An economy with the flow of funds that ours has can produce and maintain all of those results.  But we have chosen a different path; funnel all the dollars to the top, and spend next to nothing for the public good.  We have privatized profit….we have socialized the costs.  And we are dying because of it.

My fellow Texans are dying in their homes….and there’s nothing I can do about it today.  And I am enraged.

I love Texas.  I am 6th generation here.  My ancestors have Texas historical markers on their graves.  We helped make this state, and this state helped make us.  It educated us (back when college was affordable).  But it’s time to face the fact – this state is a failure, and on its current path, with its current leadership and philosophy, it will only get worse.  This state has a terrible future, unless we dramatically change our path.   Chances of that happening?  0.0% -- because we’ll continue to vote for the guys who make our leadership priorities bathroom bills, and transgender sports, and requiring the national anthem be played at certain events.  Any bill that has been proposed to improve emergency preparedness of gov’t entities has been crushed by the Republicans controlling the lege….but we will definitely stick with those guys.  No taxes.  No government functionality.

What we are seeing happening right now is our system working EXACTLY AS IT WAS DESIGNED AND INTENDED TO WORK.  And we will, I guarantee it, collectively decide to stick with that.  This state is in free-fall, and anyone with eyes can see it.  And anyone with a brain is starting to think of ways to make their life elsewhere.  It breaks my goddamned heart to see us commit collective suicide, but here we are.

 

 

User Feedback

Recommended Comments

Ghost of NMAS

Certifiably Surly

It's wrong for them to tell you what to put in your body, but perfectly okay for them to tell women what they have to keep in it

Sawbonz

Certifiably Surly
15 hours ago, SimonBolivar said:

image.png.37bea5b7826ba5abe5bbadee1aa1eac7.png

Fuck you carpetbagger 

Sawbonz

Certifiably Surly
8 hours ago, scottsins said:

Have we just totally glossed over the ban of all sales of THC vape products that went into effect? Delta-8, THC-A, hemp derived Delta-9, etc?

I knew nothing about it until yesterday.

Vaping is terrible for your lungs dude

Vegas64

Full Members
3 hours ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

What is weird to me is that on the same day that vapes were banned, the Texas Compassionate Use Program actually had some limitations removed and allowed for a) more THC b) more reasons for approval like PTSD and anxiety and c) the use of Vapes and Vape products (versus just gummies and tinctures).

I wonder if the play is to try and get everyone to sign up and pay for it that way and they eventually allow flower through TCUP:

Quote

 

For many Texans, vape products are a preferred method for using medical cannabis. You may have heard about new legislation—Senate Bill 2024—and wondered what this new law means for your access to the products you rely on.

This new legislation, which takes effect on September 1, 2025, primarily targets the broader hemp market and aims to crack down on certain e-cigarette and vape products in Texas. The good news for Texas Cannabis Clinic patients is that the law specifically does not affect devices and liquids used with prescription medical devices. Since your medical cannabis products are prescribed through the Texas Compassionate Use Program, you can rest assured that your access to these products remains protected.

The bill’s focus is on unregulated vape products containing a variety of substances, particularly those manufactured in or marketed as being from countries deemed “foreign adversaries.” It also bans products with designs or packaging that appeal to children, such as candy flavors or shapes that mimic non-vape items. Penalties for non-compliance have been increased to a Class A misdemeanor.

We want to make sure you have all the information you need to feel confident and secure in your treatment plan. If you have questions about your specific medication or treatment options, we encourage you to schedule a telehealth appointment with one of our doctors at Texas Cannabis Clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does SB 2024 ban all vapes in Texas? A: No, the bill does not ban all vaping products. It specifically targets vape products that are not part of the medical program, are manufactured in or marketed from China, contain intoxicating substances other than nicotine, or have packaging that appeals to children.

Q: Does SB 2024 affect my prescribed medical cannabis vapes? A: No, if your medical cannabis products are prescribed under the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), they are exempt from this law. Your access to your prescribed medication remains protected.

 

 

Ragde

Legacy Members
28 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

Vaping is terrible for your lungs dude

But still a choice he, as an adult, should be able to make for himself. 

Pato del Muerto

Certifiably Surly
3 minutes ago, Ragde said:

But still a choice he, as an adult, should be able to make for himself. 

If the government doesn’t hav eth right to regulate what you do or do not put into your body, doesn’t that mean that any drug regulations would be considered null and void?  As per the signed and notarized contract between a person and god?

Sawbonz

Certifiably Surly
30 minutes ago, Ragde said:

But still a choice he, as an adult, should be able to make for himself. 

So in your opinion, we should be able to buy asbestos sandwiches?

Foosters

Certifiably Surly
1 minute ago, Sawbonz said:

So in your opinion, we should be able to buy asbestos sandwiches?

In your opinion, should alcohol be banned?

Longhorn_Fan68

Certifiably Surly
(edited)
3 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

So in your opinion, we should be able to buy asbestos sandwiches?

If it's slapped with a label that says, "Will cause cancer", probably. I'm in favor of all drugs being legal and regulated. compassionate use would cut down on a lot of death and crime. a lot, a lot. I'm also in favor of euthanasia. I'm basically in favor of you being allowed to do whatever you want to yourself. it's your life. just don't involve anyone else (and therein lies the gray area)

Edited by Longhorn_Fan68

Sawbonz

Certifiably Surly
28 minutes ago, Foosters said:

In your opinion, should alcohol be banned?

No, but if someone wants to bring to market an injectable ir insufflation delivery system for alcohol, they should have to demonstrate it is safe

Ragde

Legacy Members
7 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

No, but if someone wants to bring to market an injectable ir insufflation delivery system for alcohol, they should have to demonstrate it is safe

Can you just start by demonstrating the safeness of alcohol?

Ragde

Legacy Members
1 hour ago, Pato del Muerto said:

If the government doesn’t hav eth right to regulate what you do or do not put into your body, doesn’t that mean that any drug regulations would be considered null and void?  As per the signed and notarized contract between a person and god?

So you are in favor of alcohol prohibition? 

Sawbonz

Certifiably Surly
3 minutes ago, Ragde said:

Can you just start by demonstrating the safeness of alcohol?

Why would I do that?

Ragde

Legacy Members
Just now, Sawbonz said:

Why would I do that?

Alcohol is terrible for your liver dude

Sawbonz

Certifiably Surly
Just now, Ragde said:

Alcohol is terrible for your liver dude

Sure. 

Foosters

Certifiably Surly

Actual non-gotcha question for @Sawbonz

As someone who occasionally vapes THC, my understanding was that it is believed to be safer than leaf combustion (cigarette or joint) but that most of the health concerns come from the unknowns that are present due to lack of studies? Is that fair?

I prefer edibles and have a dry-herb vape that I'm far more comfortable using than the oil, although it is not near as convenient.

Sawbonz

Certifiably Surly
Just now, Foosters said:

Actual non-gotcha question for @Sawbonz

As someone who occasionally vapes THC, my understanding was that it is believed to be safer than leaf combustion (cigarette or joint) but that most of the health concerns come from the unknowns that are present due to lack of studies? Is that fair?

I prefer edibles and have a dry-herb vape that I'm far more comfortable using than the oil, although it is not near as convenient.

I’m just a dumb bone doctor so I do not know. I have read that some of the  substances in the liquids, when heated, get converted to free radicals and other toxic shit and can fuck up your lungs with minimal exposure. I would think if a company is profiting by selling such a delivery system they should be required to demonstrate its safety, even if users know the substance being delivered may be / is harmful 

Pato del Muerto

Certifiably Surly
12 minutes ago, Ragde said:

So you are in favor of alcohol prohibition? 

How do you get there from my post?

TwiceHorn

Full Members

Inhaling anything other than air, or other breathable gases I'm sure is sub-optimal.

But vape liquids mostly produce water vapor, with nicotine or THC and flavoring.

There are a lot of unknowns, yes, but compared to inhaling combustion products, it's got to be a harm-reduction strategy.

So concluded the CDC's former head of the anti-smoking program.

Pato del Muerto

Certifiably Surly
57 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

So in your opinion, we should be able to buy asbestos sandwiches?

Would we miss anyone who chooses to do so?

Foosters

Certifiably Surly
1 minute ago, TwiceHorn said:

But vape liquids mostly produce water vapor, with nicotine or THC and flavoring.

Is that right? Because the THC stuff is a pretty thick oil, and I'm just imagining my lungs looking kinda like my oven range hood after a couple of months of cooking...

Brian Fantana

Legacy Members
5 hours ago, HalfSack Horn said:

It’s all cbd/thc vapes + the nicotine vapes(Geek bar, Tyson, etc) that have any parts from China.  I quit cigarettes by using a vape.  I won’t claim it’s healthy by any means, but it’s better than cigs.   I just figured out the ban on vapes when the prices started going through the roof.

This state bows down to the alcohol and tobacco lobby.  

I also quit cigs by using a vape, and quitting the goddamn vape was 100x harder.

Nowadays I don't use any nicotine/tobacco products at all but I'm on those THC gummies every day.

Sawbonz

Certifiably Surly
7 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

But vape liquids mostly produce water vapor, with nicotine or THC and flavoring

Yeah I don’t know how heating organic compounds to a temp that would vaporize them would not result in harmful byproducts but I’m definitely not an expert. And oils wouldn’t have water in them unless there is some type of emulsifier which seems like a horrible idea 

dcbc

Burnt Ends
22 minutes ago, Foosters said:

I prefer edibles and have a dry-herb vape that I'm far more comfortable using than the oil, although it is not near as convenient.

I'm starting to see a correlation with the THC vape sales ban and all the PAX dry-herb vape ads I've been getting in my instagram feed these last few weeks.  Moose out front should've told me though.

Brian Fantana

Legacy Members
10 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

Yeah I don’t know how heating organic compounds to a temp that would vaporize them would not result in harmful byproducts but I’m definitely not an expert. And oils wouldn’t have water in them unless there is some type of emulsifier which seems like a horrible idea 

You're only ever in the danger zone (as far as creating harmful byproducts goes) if you are heating them to a point that actually causes thermal degradation. None of the commercial disposables (like Geek Bars or whatever) that most people use get hot enough for this to happen. If you're using a custom vape with high wattage, that can be a different story, especially if you're not replacing your coils as often as you should.

Also, what TH is saying isn't really correct. There is no water vapor coming from the e-liquid, it's aerosolized glycerin and propylene glycol. Whatever water vapor you're exhaling comes from the air in your lungs.

Either way, I'm glad I don't touch the stuff anymore.

SimonBolivar

Certifiably Surly

The D8 vapes that I have all feel really bad when compared to putting flower in a Pax. I use gummies 95% of the time now, but the unregulated vapes felt pretty scammy honestly. 

Foosters

Certifiably Surly
13 minutes ago, SimonBolivar said:

The D8 vapes that I have all feel really bad when compared to putting flower in a Pax. I use gummies 95% of the time now, but the unregulated vapes felt pretty scammy honestly. 

well the unregulated ones which garbage put into them is a different issue, but even with those that are well-tested and regulated, I'm still concerned about inhaling a heated oil

Brian Fantana

Legacy Members
5 minutes ago, Foosters said:

well the unregulated ones which garbage put into them is a different issue, but even with those that are well-tested and regulated, I'm still concerned about inhaling a heated oil

Vape juice contains water soluble organic compounds, no oils. Still not good for you, I imagine, but inhaling heated oil would cause [maybe permanent] lung damage pretty quickly I think.

chainsaw

Full Members
2 minutes ago, Ragde said:

Alcohol is terrible for your liver dude

Counterpoint:

Spoiler

image.png

 

Schulz2.0

Certifiably Surly
1 hour ago, Foosters said:

Actual non-gotcha question for @Sawbonz

As someone who occasionally vapes THC, my understanding was that it is believed to be safer than leaf combustion (cigarette or joint) but that most of the health concerns come from the unknowns that are present due to lack of studies? Is that fair?

I prefer edibles and have a dry-herb vape that I'm far more comfortable using than the oil, although it is not near as convenient.

A lot of vapes put heavy metals into your lungs.

https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/disposable-e-cigarettes-more-toxic-traditional-cigarettes

MC Fresh Breath

Certifiably Surly
1 hour ago, Brian Fantana said:

I also quit cigs by using a vape, and quitting the goddamn vape was 100x harder.

Nowadays I don't use any nicotine/tobacco products at all but I'm on those THC gummies every day.

Which banned dyes are in those gummies?

Pato del Muerto

Certifiably Surly
1 hour ago, Brian Fantana said:

also quit cigs by using a vape, and quitting the goddamn vape was 100x harder.

Would have been easier if you used cigs to quit vaping.  

BrickHorn

Legacy Members
5 minutes ago, Schulz2.0 said:

A lot of vapes put heavy metals into your lungs.

No worries. I already have heavy metal coursing through my veins. 

hqdefault.jpg

Pato del Muerto

Certifiably Surly
46 minutes ago, Brian Fantana said:

You're only ever in the danger zone (as far as creating harmful byproducts goes) if you are heating them to a point that actually causes thermal degradation. None of the commercial disposables (like Geek Bars or whatever) that most people use get hot enough for this to happen. If you're using a custom vape with high wattage, that can be a different story, especially if you're not replacing your coils as often as you should.

Also, what TH is saying isn't really correct. There is no water vapor coming from the e-liquid, it's aerosolized glycerin and propylene glycol. Whatever water vapor you're exhaling comes from the air in your lungs.

Either way, I'm glad I don't touch the stuff anymore.

What temp do vape pens generate?  Quick google search says propylene glycol can decompose into formaldehyde and other toxic agents as low as 140C. 

google also says vape coils hit that temp and well above. 

Sawbonz

Certifiably Surly
17 minutes ago, chainsaw said:

Counterpoint:

  Hide contents

image.png

 

Too soon

Foosters

Certifiably Surly
24 minutes ago, Brian Fantana said:

Vape juice contains water soluble organic compounds, no oils. Still not good for you, I imagine, but inhaling heated oil would cause [maybe permanent] lung damage pretty quickly I think.

Are you sure? A quick search shows that these types of cartridges contain "cannabis oil."

THE LEGION OF BLOOM — The Monarch Vape Line

Whatever it is, its so viscous that turning the cart upside down will take hours for the solution to settle at the bottom

 

Sawbonz

Certifiably Surly
10 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Would have been easier if you used cigs to quit vaping.  

 

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members
11 hours ago, scottsins said:

Have we just totally glossed over the ban of all sales of THC vape products that went into effect? Delta-8, THC-A, hemp derived Delta-9, etc?

I knew nothing about it until yesterday.

Dave Chappelle Omg GIF

Brian Fantana

Legacy Members
Just now, Foosters said:

Are you sure? A quick search shows that these types of cartridges contain "cannabis oil."

THE LEGION OF BLOOM — The Monarch Vape Line

Whatever it is, its so viscous that turning the cart upside down will take hours for the solution to settle at the bottom

 

I don't know about those, never used them. I was talking specifically about nicotine vape juice.

5 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

What temp do vape pens generate?  Quick google search says propylene glycol can decompose into formaldehyde and other toxic agents as low as 140C. 

google also says vape coils hit that temp and well above. 

I'm not sure, not an expert by any means but I would guess that temperature is just one factor. I know I read a while back that most of the toxic byproduct release was attributed to dry hits or improperly installed coils etc.

GreenspointTexas

Certifiably Surly

People vaping in 2025 is insane to me, but to each their own. Keeps my job safe. You wouldnt believe how hard it is to extubate someone who is a regular vape user vs non-smoker.

 

 

Gummies easily where its at

mchookem

Certifiably Surly
31 minutes ago, chainsaw said:

Counterpoint:

  Hide contents

image.png

 

🖕

Sawbonz

Certifiably Surly
57 minutes ago, Brian Fantana said:

it's aerosolized glycerin and propylene glycol.

Again I don’t know how these pens work but compounds like this break down to bad shit if heated above certain temps. It’s why in O chem lab we had to heat certain reagents over a water bath instead of over a flame or hot plate

Pescado_Rojo

Certifiably Surly

All this talk about smoking reminded me of this Derrick Stroup bit. Good part starts at 14:00

 

Brian Fantana

Legacy Members
1 minute ago, Sawbonz said:

Again I don’t know how these pens work but compounds like this break down to bad shit if heated above certain temps. It’s why in O chem lab we had to heat certain reagents over a water bath instead of over a flame or hot plate

Whatever medical nerd, we amateur home chefs call that a double boiler

Foosters

Certifiably Surly

i think we're all talking about different things.

- E-cigs with liquid (can be broken down further into disposable vs refillable)

- Vaping THC oil (can be broken down further into disposable vs refillable AND regulated vs unregulated)

- Vaping dry herb THC

Anyway, sorry for the thread derail. Probably a better place to continue the conversation.

 

chainsaw

Full Members
14 minutes ago, mchookem said:

🖕

That was the moment that changed it from "drinking this afternoon" to "drinking heavily this afternoon"

Ghost of NMAS

Certifiably Surly

I guess Texas is no longer a failed state since this thread has turned into a vape discussion group

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