Joe Rogan argued on Thursday's episode of The Joe Rogan Experience that Republican efforts to restrict THC could alienate younger Texans and undermine the political coalition that has kept the state reliably red.

“The THC thing… Here’s what Texas doesn’t understand,” Rogan said. “You will f*ck this place up and you will turn the whole thing blue.”

“Kids will turn on you if you tell them they can’t smoke weed,” he added.

The prediction is Rogan's opinion, but it comes as Texas Republicans are navigating a complicated political and legal battle over marijuana and hemp-derived THC products — and as Democrats hope to make make gains in the increasingly competitive state.

Texas' Complicated Fight Over THC

Texas currently allows medical marijuana through its Compassionate Use Program, but recreational marijuana remains illegal.

The state's treatment of hemp-derived products has become another source of controversy.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reinstated controlled-substance classifications covering cannabinoids including delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC and THCP, classifying the substances as Schedule I drugs and creating significant uncertainty for the state's hemp industry.

Hemp retailers and a distributor challenged the decision in federal court, but a judge declined their request for an emergency temporary restraining order against the reclassification.

Andrea Steel, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, stressed that the ruling did not settle the underlying lawsuit.

“A temporary restraining order is emergency relief, held to one of the toughest standards in federal law,” Steel said. “Being denied one at this stage does not decide our case. We expected a hard fight, and we remain confident in the law.”

For Rogan, however, the issue extends beyond the legal arguments. He believes Republicans risk creating a broader cultural backlash by adopting an aggressively prohibitionist approach to marijuana.

Rogan Has Long Championed Marijuana Legalization

There is little surprising about Rogan opposing marijuana restrictions.

The podcaster has spoken openly for years about his own marijuana use and advocated legalization well before he became as influential as he is today.

But the location of his warning makes it more politically interesting.

Rogan moved from California to Texas in 2020 and has since made Austin the home of his podcast and comedy club. He has repeatedly criticized California's taxes, regulations, homelessness and Covid policies while speaking favorably about many aspects of life in Texas.

He also backed Donald Trump in 2024 after hosting him for a lengthy interview shortly before the election.

‘You Will Turn the Whole Thing Blue’

Rogan has previously worried about Democrats gaining ground in his adopted state.

He has warned that people moving from blue states could eventually alter Texas politics, while arguing that political “balance” is important.

2024 national polling consistently showed the economy, immigration and abortion as top priorities for voters.

While marijuana policy could prove consequential, Rogan’s estimations may be somewhat exaggerated.

Still, Rogan's comments are noteworthy because they point toward a potential tension between culturally conservative Republicans and the more libertarian-leaning portion of the broader coalition that supported Trump.

Texas Republicans Face a Competitive Senate Race

The warning also arrives as Republicans confront at least some evidence of a more competitive Texas.

Democrat James Talarico is running against Republican Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate, with recent polling showing a closer contest than Republicans would typically anticipate in the state.

That does not mean Texas is on the verge of becoming Democratic territory, but even relatively small movements among younger voters could matter in competitive races.

Rogan's audience is particularly relevant to that conversation. His show reaches large numbers of younger men — a demographic that moved toward Trump in 2024 and became an important component of his winning coalition.

Watch the clip.